SOCIAL care staff in County Durham are to work throughout the Christmas and New Year break to deal with emergencies.
Hundreds of Durham County Council's social care and health staff will ensure that, while services will be limited over the bank holidays, emergency situations will be dealt with.
The teams help members of the public in a variety of situations - including moving people from hospital, emergency referrals to residential or nursing care and housing young children left alone over Christmas or where abuse is suspected.
Between December 20 and 24 and December 29 and 31, the service will be open from 8am to 8pm. All offices will be closed from Christmas Day to December 28 inclusive and New Year's Day to January 3, before returning to normal on January 4.
People can contact the service on 0845 850 5010. Outside office hours, people can contact the emergency duty team on the same number.
Those with an approved stairlift or hoist which breaks down can report faults on 0191-383 3793 (8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4pm Friday) or 07713 193712 (north of the county) or 07713 193705 (south of the county) at other times.
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