Call 111 if you need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency.
If you need a face-to-face appointment, they will tell you what to do. If you need medical help fast or think you need to go to an Emergency Department (A&E), are worried about your symptoms or you’re not sure what to do, go straight to NHS 111.
Get help online or on the phone
To get help from NHS 111, you can:
- go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
- call 111
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can:
- call 18001 111 on a textphone,
- use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you’re deaf and want to use the phone service
How NHS 111 works
You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.
Depending on the situation you’ll:
- 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 told how to get any medicine you need
- get self-care advice
- If the NHS 111 advisors think that an ambulance is required, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.
For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or community pharmacist in the usual way. For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.
If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call when you are concerned about your condition, continue to use that number.