When to use 111

When to use 111

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

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’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service available in your country:

• England – NHS 111 (BSL) interpreter service
• Scotland – NHS 24 111
• Wales – NHS 111 Wales
• Northern Ireland – NHS 111 Northern Ireland

You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

How NHS 111 works

You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.

You can ask for a translator if you need one.

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 self-care advice

Information:

You can also get:

• a large print guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 1.8Mb)
• an easy read guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 1Mb)
• a British Sign Language (BSL) video about NHS 111 on YouTube
• an audio guide to NHS 111 on SoundCloud

Your information

If you use NHS 111 online, the NHS 111 online privacy policy describes how we use your information.

Calls to the NHS 111 phone service are recorded. A record is kept of all contact with NHS 111 and stored securely by the NHS. This information is only shared with others directly involved with your care.

Some of the information collected will also be shared with NHS Digital to improve NHS 111 and 999 services. Find out more about how your information might be used by the 111 phone service (PDF, 92kb).

Feedback and complaints

Your feedback helps to improve NHS 111.

You can leave feedback about using the website on each page, or by filling in a survey at the end.

The NHS 111 phone service is locally-commissioned to a national NHS standard. Different providers run the service in each area. NHS England has details on how to give feedback about the phone service in your area.

To make a formal complaint about NHS 111, follow the NHS complaints procedure.