NHS 111 is a free, non-emergency service available for urgent health care assessment. If you are unsure which healthcare service you need to visit, the NHS 111 service will signpost you to the most appropriate care for your condition, which could be your GP, local pharmacy or walk-in centre. It could also be the emergency department or an emergency ambulance if required.
The service is available 24 hours a day by dialling 111 or by going to 111.nhs.uk.
If you do not need to be seen by a healthcare professional, advice about how to self-care at home will be given by one of our clinically trained advisors. If you are in need of emergency care, we will transfer your call to the ambulance operations centre where an ambulance will be sent to you, if required, in accordance with the severity of the condition.
Read the full transcript here.
What happens when you use NHS 111?
When you call NHS 111 one of our specially trained health advisors will take you through a series of questions. We will firstly ask for your name, address and telephone number so we can be sure we have your correct details to call you back if needed.
You will be asked to explain:
- What the symptoms are, how they affect you and when they began
- What you have tried already
- Any medication you are already taking
- Any existing medical conditions
- Anything else that you think is relevant
At the end of your clinical assessment we’ll advise you on the next best step for your care. The NHS 111 health advisor will be able to:
- Decide what clinical help you need
- Tell you where you need to go to get that clinical help
Sometimes, if appropriate, your call may be referred to one of our clinicians – a trained nurse or paramedic – for further assessment of your condition or for medical advice.
You may feel that some of the questions are unnecessary, but patient care and safety is our top priority – we need to rule out a life-threatening condition first and direct you to the most appropriate healthcare service to suit your needs as quickly as possible.
If you use 111.nhs.uk, the process is very similar but all online – you will be asked questions and, depending on the answers you give about your symptoms, you will be given advice on what to do or where to go next.