NHS Services & Advice

Find NHS services near you

NHS 111

NHS 111 is the fast, easy and free NHS non-emergency contact. You can call 111 or fill in an online form at 111.nhs.uk.

When you call 111 you will speak to a highly trained adviser who is supported by healthcare professionals. The adviser will ask you a series of questions to assess your own, or the patient’s symptoms, and you will then be directed immediately to the most appropriate medical care.

When you visit 111 online you will be asked questions which will assess your symptoms and, depending on the situation, will be directed to the most appropriate medical care.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is no charge to use the website and calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice when it is not a life-threatening situation.

Call 111 or visit 111 online if:

you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

You can download information leaflets in a range of languages and formats and find out about the British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for the NHS 111 service on the NHS website.

Registering for a GP

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery – it's free to register. You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.

GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem. They can treat many conditions and give health advice. They can also refer you to other NHS services.

Find more information about registering for a GP.

Hospital Stays

When you visit the hospital, you will come under one of the following areas:

outpatient who has an appointment to see a consultant but does not need a bed
a day patient is someone who needs a bed for surgery or tests, but will not be staying overnight
an inpatient is someone who needs a bed and is staying overnight

Find more information about having an operation.

What's an admission letter?

Once your hospital appointment is booked, you'll receive an admission letter, which provides you with details such as your hospital admission date or the ward you're going to be on.

If you need to follow any specific instructions before your treatment, those are also included in the letter.

Contents of an admission letter:

the date and time of the appointment
contact details of the hospital department or ward in charge of your care
information about where you have to go on the day
the name of the consultant-led team in charge of your care
information about any tests you may need to have before your appointment
information about any samples (pee and poo) or medicines you may have to bring with you on the day
information about whether you can or cannot eat or drink before your hospital appointment, and how long for

Besides the items listed on your appointment letter, you may also want to bring the following with you:

a small amount of money in case you need to buy a drink or snack
information about any changes to your personal details, such as a new address or GP
proof of entitlement to free prescriptions, if appropriate
proof of entitlement to free travel or help with travel, if appropriate

If you have any communication difficulties, you should be given information you can easily understand and any support you need to communicate effectively with the people caring for you. Call the hospital in advance if you have any special needs or require a translator.

The Accessible Information Standard spells out what you can expect.

Find out more about going into hospital with a learning disability.