Townsfolk now have a whole host of NHS urgent care services available to them when their normal doctor's surgeries are closed.

Dr Ben McCaffrey, medical director of the Worcestershire Urgent Primary Care Service, said the NHS now provided a dedicated team of people to look after residents out of hours.

"Things have come a long way since your own GP used to struggle through long nights and days trying to look after patients 24 hours, seven days a week," he said.

There are many services people can access if they need help when their normal surgery is closed.

The NHS Direct is a phone-based advice service available to all patients 24 hours a day which gives authoritative medical advice about a wide range of conditions. Its phone number is 0845 46 47 and the service is also available via the internet, on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, and via the red button on digital TVs. Pharmacies can also provide advice about the management of simple ailments.

Minor injury units have a team of highly trained nurses at hospitals, including the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove. They deal with minor cuts and injuries which are not suitable for your own GP, but not severe enough to attend accident and emergency units. These services operate on a turn up and wait system.

Worcestershire Urgent Primary Care Services is on 0845 609 0669. The phone will be answered by a trained nurse or doctor who will listen to the problem and advise what to do next. They can arrange an appointment with a doctor for those whose problem cannot wait until their own GP surgery opens again or sort out a home visit for those whose medical need warrants this.

Accident and emergency is available at Worcestershire Royal and the Alexandra hospitals for people with severe injuries, accidents and those suddenly very unwell.

Calling 999 is for emergency response at home, accidents or if somebody is taken suddenly severely ill. Typical events needing a 999 response might be sudden severe chest pain, unexpected loss of consciousness or a serious accident.