OUT-of-hours medical staff in Warrington have launched a new campaign to make sure people know how to access urgent healthcare when their GP's surgery is closed.

Adverts have been placed on and inside buses in the town and posters and leaflets have been posted in public buildings.

Since being launched in April last year, the service, which is run by Warrington Primary Care Trust, has had more than 57,000 contacts with more than 22,000 patients seen at Garven Place.

And the vast majority of people using the service are positive about the care they have received, praising the professionalism of doctors and nurses.

Patients who contact the service by telephone speak to an experienced nurse who will assess if they need to be seen by a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional, or given self care advice.

The service is for anyone who needs urgent healthcare when their doctor's surgery is closed, and often patients will be seen much faster than if they had gone to the hospital's accident and emergency department.

It also has a late night pharmacy which is open until 10.30pm, 365 days a year, to dispense prescriptions issued by the out of hours service. It also provides access to over-the-counter medicines.

Access by phone first is encouraged because Garven Place is not always manned overnight and calls are answered from a different location during off-peak periods.

Accessing the service by phone also allows many patients to receive advice straight away, which can reduce the number of unnecessary journeys for patients who are unwell.

Contact Warrington out-of-hours healthcare service on 650999. It is open weekdays from 6pm until 8am and 24 hours at weekends and on public holidays.

For more information or to request an information leaflet, log onto www.warrington-pct.nhs.uk or call 644218.