Patient Information | Cumbria Health

We are proud to be a trusted healthcare provider

Formerly known as CHoC, delivering primary health care services within and out of hours to the population of Cumbria and beyond.

Opening Times

We provide cover when your GP’s Practice is closed:

Treatment Centres

We have treatment centres in Carlisle, Penrith, Wigton, Whitehaven, Kendal and Barrow, offering out of hours support

Treatment Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 6.30pm until 8.00am | Open 24hours on a weekend

Bank Holidays

Including Easter, Christmas and New Year

Call 111 if:

You need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency
You think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
You don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call
You need health information or reassurance about what to do next

For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist in the usual way.

If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call when you are concerned about your condition, continue to use that number.

Remember – call 999 if you have a life threatening emergency

NHS Symptoms A to Z - Find out about a symptom, including causes, treatment and what to do.

Once you have phoned 111 a member of the Cumbria Health team will ring you back and you will be managed in one of the following ways:

Telephone Advice

Sometimes your problem might just need some advice from a clinician (doctor or nurse) to reassure you how to manage your symptoms.

Sometimes you our clinicians might need to see you face to face. This can be done either by coming to a Cumbria Health treatment centre, or a home visit.

Our clinicians usually prefer to see children face to face at one of our Cumbria Health centres. This helps us to see children quicker and also refer on to paediatric services if necessary.

Appointment at a Cumbria Health Treatment Centre

Our clinician may feel that you need to be seen in person to further investigate your symptoms, so you will be telephoned with an appointment time at one of our treatment centres.

Please do not just walk into a Cumbria Health treatment centre. You must call 111 first.

Home Visit

Home visits are reserved for physically housebound or end of life care patients.

Video Consultation

In some cases, dependant on your symptom, you will receive a video call appointment using a secure link with one of our clinicians. Video consultations allow the clinician to have a visual of you and your symptoms potentially saving you a lot of unnecessary travel time.

How does it work?

The NHS 111 service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms, then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you to the local service that can help you best. That could be A&E, an out-of-hours doctor, an urgent care centre or a walk-in centre, a community nurse, an emergency dentist or a late-opening chemist. Where possible, the NHS 111 team will book you an appointment or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to. If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.

After your appointment

Your own GP gets full details of the consultation that you have had with Cumbria Health. This is sent to them via the computer at 8 o’clock in the morning the next working day. If you do have any further on-going concerns or questions, your own GP will have all of the details and should be able to answer those questions for you.

If your condition is worsening

Please follow any advice given to you by the doctor/nurse who has seen you. If your condition is worsening or you feel you have developed new symptoms please call 111. If you have any doubts about the doctor’s advice please re-contact Cumbria Health.

Your Medical Records

We will ask your consent to view your GP records and ensure that the record of your Cumbria Health contact is passed onto your own GP practice.

Special Requirements Including Type Talk

If you have any special requirements, e.g. you would like a chaperone, you are hard of hearing or are visually impaired please let a member of the Cumbria Health team know and we will do our best to accommodate this. If you require the use of Type Talk the number to use is: 18001 03000 247 247.

How Cumbria Health Will Manage Your Care

Cumbria Health is here to help you when your own surgery is closed and you cannot wait until your surgery opens to seek medical attention.

Translation Service

A confidential interpreter service is available in a wide range of languages. When you call NHS 111, simply tell the call handler which language you would like to use.

Repeat Prescriptions

Please order your repeat medication from your GP practice in plenty of time, especially before weekends and bank holidays, to avoid running out. Requests for repeat prescriptions at short notice can reduce the time available for patients who need urgent medical care.

Temporary Residents

If you are visiting the area and need to see a GP during normal surgery hours, please contact the GP practice closest to where you are staying. You may be able to register as a temporary patient to access appointments while you are here.

Cumbria Health Extended Access

The Cumbria Health Extended Access (CHEA) service offers pre-bookable evening and weekend routine appointments with GPs, nurses, and pharmacists across Cumbria. This makes it easier to access healthcare appointments at a time that works for you.

Our Out of Hour Bases

Cumberland Infirmary

Cumberland Infirmary,Newtown Road,Carlisle,CA2 7HY

Located through the main hospital entrance. Follow the main atrium and we are situated past the reception area on the right hand side in the yellow area in Surgical pre-assessment.

Furness General Hospital

Furness General Hospital,Dalton Lane,Barrow-in-Furness,LA14 4LF

Located through the main A&E entrance, first turning on your right, follow the sign for CHoC

Penrith Hospital

Penrith Hospital,Bridge Lane,Penrith,CA11 8HX

Located within the UTC. Please go through the double sliding doors and attend the reception desk.

West Cumberland Hospital

West Cumberland Hospital,Homewood Road,Hensingham,Whitehaven,CA28 8JG

Located within the Outpatients department, enter through the double doors and straight down the corridor, following the signs for CHoC.

Westmorland General Hospital

Westmorland General Hospital,Burton Road,Kendal,LA9 7RG

Located within the Main Outpatients Department, through the sliding doors and straight ahead to the reception desk.

Wigton Community Hospital

Wigton Community Hospital,Cross Lane,Wigton,Cumbria,CA7 9DD

The entrance is located to the right hand side of the building. Please press the buzzer on the door