GPs across the country provide services to their registered population on Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm, they are not expected to be available outside these hours (including weekends and bank holidays).
The period outside these hours is covered by other services including 111, BARDOC (out of hours GP services), Urgent Treatment Centres (Rochdale Infirmary) and A&E departments (Royal Oldham, Fairfield General Hospital and North Manchester Hospital), these are only for emergencies and not routine care.
With a terminal illness, sometimes it is difficult to know when the patient condition will deteriorate or when the patient may pass away. If this occurs in the evenings or weekends then there could be significant amount of stress, frustration, and confusion if adequate planning has not taken place during the in hours (Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm) period with your GP.
Talk to the GP about any provisions in place over the evening or weekend.