The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency have announced a yellow cold-health alert for the East of England. This alert is now in effect from 6PM on 17/01/2025 until 9AM on 21/01/2025. Visit our cold weather health advice for more information.

NHS 111

NHS 111 makes it easier for people to access health services and medical advice fast.

Call 111 if you need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency.

NHS 111 can help if you think you need urgent medical help. They will direct you to the best place to get help if you cannot contact your GP during the day, or when your GP is closed (out-of-hours).

Important advice:

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, 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.

Video: How to use 111 online on the NHS app

This video talks you through how to use 111 online using your NHS app.