NHS 111
How NHS 111 can help you
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do or where to get help.
It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained call advisors and NHS 111 clinicians can give you the advice you need and help you get the right treatment fast.
If needed, NHS 111 can book patients in to be seen local health and care services. Depending on the situation you will:
- find out what local service can help you
- be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
- be given an arrival time if you need to go to A&E – this might mean you spend less time in A&E
- be told how to get any medicine you need
- get advice on how to manage your illness at home
How NHS 111 works
To get help from NHS 111, you can:
-
- go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged five and over only)
- call 111 for free from a landline or mobile phone
You will then be asked to answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can:
- Call 18001 111 using the Relay UK app on your smartphone, tablet or computer, or via a traditional textphone; or
- Use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you’re deaf and want to use the phone service.
- You can ask also listen to this audio guide about NHS 111.
Finding the right urgent help
Knowing the right route to urgent care can help you get seen more quickly. Hospital A&E departments can be extremely busy. There are many other urgent care services in your community that could help. Find out where to get the right help below.
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