999, 111, pharmacy or GP? How to choose
A paramedic's plain guide to choosing between 999, NHS 111, your pharmacy and your GP, with the warning signs that always mean calling 999 straight away.
Call 999 when someone's life may be at risk: chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, a fit that won't stop, severe bleeding or someone who won't wake up. For anything urgent that isn't life-threatening, use NHS 111 online or by phone. For common minor illnesses, start with a pharmacy. For ongoing or non-urgent problems, contact your GP practice. If you're unsure and it might be serious, call 999. Nobody will think less of you for it.
Call 999 for
- Chest pain, especially if it spreads to the arm, neck, jaw or back, or comes with sweating or breathlessness.
- Difficulty breathing, or someone breathing very fast, struggling to speak or turning blue or grey.
- Signs of a stroke. Remember FAST: face drooping, arm weakness, speech problems, time to call 999.
- Unconsciousness, or someone who is very drowsy and hard to wake, or suddenly confused.
- A fit that won't stop, or a first fit.
- Severe bleeding that won't stop with firm pressure.
- A severe allergic reaction: swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or collapse. Use an adrenaline auto-injector if they have one, then call.
- Serious injuries, including head injuries, severe burns, or falls from height.
Use NHS 111 for
Problems that need help soon but aren't life-threatening, for example a high temperature that isn't settling, a cut that may need stitches, sudden pain, or when you're worried and don't know where to go. NHS 111 online can assess you and direct you to the right place, including an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP or a call back from a clinician.
Mental health. Choose the mental health option on NHS 111 to speak to a trained professional. It is for people of all ages, including children, and for anyone worried about someone else.
Use a pharmacy for
Pharmacists can advise on many minor illnesses without an appointment. Under the NHS Pharmacy First service in England, pharmacies can also assess and, where appropriate, treat seven common conditions without a GP visit:
- sinusitis;
- sore throat;
- earache in children and young people;
- infected insect bites;
- impetigo;
- shingles;
- uncomplicated urine infections in women.
Each condition has an age range, so ask the pharmacist. NHS England is adding more conditions for pharmacies that offer prescribing, so check with your local pharmacy.
Use your GP practice for
Ongoing problems, symptoms that have lasted a while, medication reviews, long-term conditions, vaccinations and referrals. Most practices now take requests online, and you'll be offered the right person, which may be a nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or mental health practitioner.
Urgent treatment centres and minor injury units
For sprains, possible broken bones, minor burns and cuts, or minor illness when you can't wait for your GP. Many are open in the evenings and at weekends.
Before you call: have this ready
- Their age and main symptoms, and when they started.
- Medical conditions, medicines and allergies.
- Any readings you have: temperature, blood sugar or oxygen level.
- For 999, the exact address and any access details, such as a key safe code.
Where Eviqa Health fits
Eviqa Health gives members access to our registered clinicians by message, phone and video, for the "is this serious?" moments in between. We'll help you decide where to go and follow up the next day. Never wait for a reply in an emergency: call 999.
Sources
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