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Call 111 when it's a concern, but less urgent than 999.

The NHS non-emergency number.

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It's fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

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’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

You can also get:

• a large print guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 272 kb)
• an easy read guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 962 kb)
• a British Sign Language (BSL) video about NHS 111
• an audio guide to NHS 111

Out-Of-Hours

If you need to contact a doctor in an emergency at night or at the weekend, you should telephone PELC Services on 111. In the interests of patients, PELC record incoming telephone calls. These recordings are strictly confidential and are dealt with in exactly the same way as patients’ medical records.

Patients are only expected to call the emergency number in cases of genuine emergency. They will, in the majority of cases, if judged appropriate by the doctors, be asked to make their own transport arrangement to the Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC), based at Whipps Cross Hospital. Visits will only take place in a minority of cases which the doctor considers appropriate.

It is very important that patients use this service only for emergencies that cannot wait until morning surgery.