Support this Winter

There’s always a health professional available 24/7. If you think you need a doctor or nurse and can’t get an urgent appointment at your practice, you can call the Same Day Health Centre at Cavendish Court on 0300 123 3103 to be seen between 10am-10pm. If you need an urgent appointment during the night, call 0300 123 9990.
If you’re not sure what to do, call 111 or visit the website 111.nhs.uk 24/7 for advice.

Minor Injuries Unit at Mexborough Montagu Hospital (MMH)

The unit is open every day from 9.00am to 9.00pm, except on Christmas Day when it is closed. The unit is staffed by experienced Emergency Nurse Practitioners who can assess and treat a wide range of minor injuries and ailments, including sprains, cuts and bruises and some simple fractures.

Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)

UTCs provide urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Doncaster UTC is based within Doncaster Royal infirmary and open 24/7 365 days a year. Patients can be referred there from the Emergency Department, the Same Day Health Centre or 111. Staff are equipped to support with many of the most common illnesses people attend Emergency Departments (A&E) for.

Out of Hours (OOH)

 This service operates from within the Urgent Treatment Centre and is operational Monday – Friday, 6pm – 8am and all-day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Appointments are made via NHS 111 or by contacting your own GP, where you will be re directed. 

Less Urgent Support

For less urgent situations when you call your surgery, you may be offered a phone or video consultation, or an appointment in the evening or at the weekend. If you’re assessed as needing a face-to-face appointment, you will get one. You should only call 999 for an ambulance or go to A&E in the case of a serious life-threatening illness or injury.

If you have a minor ailment or illness that’s been troubling you and we’re in the neighbourhood, come and see Vincent Van Cough, your local Health Van for FREE. The Health Van Service makes stops in communities so that everyone, regardless of whether you’re registered with a local GP practice or not, can access high quality healthcare and is staffed by GPs, nurses and other healthcare staff who work locally in Doncaster. Find out where the health bus is this week through the Primary Care Doncaster website.

Smear Tests

Nervousness, embarrassment, and lack of time are among the reasons almost one in three women don’t attend their routine appointment for a smear test which is a vital check for cervical cancer. To help eligible women in Doncaster overcome these barriers, particularly in more deprived areas, in partnership Primary Care Doncaster and the SY Cancer Alliance have developed a mobile screening service via Primary Care Doncaster’s Health Van – Vincent Van-Cough. Drop-in smear test clinics are now available in different locations across the city. To find out dates and locations of where to find the Health Van, visit the Primary Care website.

Smokefree advice

Smoke Free intervention services will now be available on Primary Care Doncaster’s Health Van. Their experts will be available on board to have conversations with anyone interested in learning more about quitting smoking. They will provide information of the benefits of a smokefree life and offer advice and guidance on how to stay on track. This is a walk-on service, so you can drop by whenever Vincent Van Cough is in your area – no appointment needed! To find out dates and locations of where to find the Health Van click here visit the Primary Care website.

Routine and same day appointments with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional are available across several sites in Doncaster. This makes it much easier to get the care you need, at a time that’s convenient for you. Appointments for this service are released every week, to find out more visit the Primary Care Doncaster website.

It’s important to ensure you have enough medicine in case you can’t leave the house for any reason during winter especially during bank holidays. NHS 111 should be able to help with an emergency supply if you run out of prescribed medication.

Find out more about support over Winter through the NHS website. You can also find out more about the health support that is available all year round through the Your Health South Yorkshire webpage.

Our Healthy Homes webpage also has lots of information on how to ensure our homes protect our health and wellbeing. You can find the Healthy Homes checklist and lots of other support to keep your home healthy through the Your Life Doncaster webpage. 

If you are finding it hard to heat your home over the winter period, Welcoming Spaces are available throughout Doncaster to support you. Welcoming Spaces across Doncaster provide a warm, safe, local space for anybody who may need it over the winter period without the expectation of having to spend money. You can find your local Welcoming Space through the Warm Welcome website. Or find more information on spaces across Doncaster that you can stay warm on our Welcoming Spaces webpage.

• Heating your home to at least 18°C is preferable for minimising risk to your health. If you need support for current energy and cost of living costs, visit our Cost of Living page.
• Get your heating system and cooking appliances checked and keep your home well ventilated
• Use your electric blanket as instructed and get it tested every three years. Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket
• Do not use a gas cooker or oven to heat your home; it is inefficient and there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and this can kill
• Make sure you have a supply of heating oil or LPG or sold fuel if you are not on mains gas or electricity, to make sure you do not run out in winter. If you need additional support for current energy costs, visit: www.doncaster.gov.uk/energysavingtips

• Fit draught proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors
• Make sure you have loft insulation. And if you have cavity walls, make sure they are insulated too;
• Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes
• Draw your curtains at dusk to help keep heat generated inside your rooms
• Make sure your radiators are not obstructed by furniture or curtains.

• Food is a vital source of energy and helps to keep your body warm so have plenty of hot food and drinks if possible. If you need additional support for current energy and cost of living costs, visit www.yourlifedoncaster.co.uk/costofliving.
• Aim to include five daily portions of fruit and vegetables. Tinned and frozen vegetables count toward your five a day
• Stock up on tinned and frozen foods so you don’t have to go out too much when it’s cold or icy
• Exercise is good for you all year round and it can keep you warm in winter
• Wear lots of thin layers – clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres are particularly good at maintaining body heat
• Wear good-fitting slippers with a good grip indoors and shoes with a good grip outside to reduce the risk of trips, slips and falls
• Make sure you have spare medication in case you are unable to go out, including sufficient supply of those on repeat prescription
• Check if you are eligible for inclusion on the priority services register operated by your water and power supplier

You can sign up to priority lists for suppliers via the links below to ensure those who need extra support in the event of losing water/power/gas get it: 

• Yorkshire Water - https://www.yorkshirewater.com/bill-account/priority-services-register/ 

• Cadent Gas - https://cadentgas.com/help-and-advice/priority-services-register 

• Northern Powergrid - https://www.northernpowergrid.com/care

• Say Hello: There is no easier way to make someone's day
• Ask: Not everyone will ask for help, but that doesn't mean they don't need it. Always ask if there is anything you can do to help.
• Keep them informed: Not everyone is online, if you see important information you think may be useful, post them a note through the door or you can even print out this webpage!
• Shopping: If you're going to the shops or pharmacy, ask if they need anything collecting.
• Spot the signs: Know the signs that they may need help. Not seen a neighbour for a while? Are their curtains always drawn? Remember, if the weather is bad, they may not be able to get out and about easily.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing social isolation and loneliness and would like to connect with people in your community, Doncaster’s Social Isolation and Loneliness Alliance (SIA) may be able to assist. The SIA is a group of voluntary, community and faith sector organisations work together, throughout Doncaster, to help anyone who is experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The SIA can offer:  

• A variety of activities in each community - allowing you to meet new people or try a new activity.
• Access to further support depending on your needs, including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, the Job Centre, or other community groups within our network.
• Opportunities to develop your skills through basic IT programmes, volunteer opportunities, and training.
• Access to mental health and wellbeing support including counselling and peer support groups.
• Information about available financial support such as foodbanks or hygiene products.
• Specific support services, such as domestic abuse or carers support.

For further information, help or support, please visit the Social Isolation Alliance website or follow their facebook page.

On 12, 18 and 19 December the historic Mansion House will host Father Christmas where children and adults get to share a story time with the big man, take part in fun activities and leave with a present. More information and tickets are available at the Evening with Father Christmas eventbrite page.

The Doncaster Festival of Light takes place at the Minster Church of St George from 15 – 24 November. This free event organised by Right Up Our Street promises to connect audiences to joy and embrace experiences and participatory moments. Tickets are available at Festival of Light Tickets '24 — Right Up Our Street

Cast will be hosting a variety of Christmas performances during November and December including Step into Christmas, The Nutcracker and the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime. Visit castindoncaster.com/whats-on/  for all the details. The Doncaster Little Theatre will also be showing their pantomime Cinderella – tickets are available at Cinderella – The Doncaster Little Theatre Pantomime! - Doncaster Little Theatre

From 30 November, the Corn Exchange will re-open its doors exclusively for public and private events following completion of its £5m heritage regeneration. The Grade II listed building has been refurbished, bringing it into the 21^st century and protecting the legacy of the building for future generations.