Not sure if it’s an emergency? Call NHS111

14th August 2018

As we head towards the summer bank holiday, the pressure remains on the NHS with GP appointments filling up fast and A&E very busy.

The problem is people tend to head to A&E, or their GP, when they’ve got a minor health problem that they could easily treat in the comfort of their own home.

Your first line of defence should be a well-stocked medicine cabinet to deal with minor issues like a bit of sunburn, cuts and grazes, bites and stings, hangovers and headaches.

But if you feel you need a little bit of help nip down to your local high street pharmacy. Pharmacists are highly trained members of the NHS team and can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints.

But what if it seems a little more serious and you’re not sure where to turn to for help? The answer is – call NHS111. This free NHS phone service makes it easy for you to get high quality healthcare advice when you need medical help fast but it’s not a life-threatening situation.

NHS111 is a free number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call handlers can provide health advice, put you in touch with the right service, arrange to have you seen by a doctor or call you an ambulance.

The service is staffed by trained call handlers with nurses on site to offer support if needed. Callers’ symptoms are assessed and they are given the healthcare advice they need or are directed immediately to the right service.

Most of the time people don’t need A&E or 999, and accessing more suitable healthcare could result in being seen quicker

A&E and 999 is only used for emergencies such as heavy blood loss, chest pains or loss of consciousness. Think before you go to A&E or call 999. These services need to be free to deal with real emergencies and should only be used in genuine emergency situations.