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.
They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
Sign language
NHS 111 offers a video relay service that allows you to make a video call to a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
The BSL interpreter will call an NHS 111 adviser on your behalf, and you're then able to have a real-time conversation with the NHS 111 adviser via the interpreter.
You'll need a webcam, a modern computer, and a good broadband connection to use this service. Visit NHS 111 BSL interpreter service for more details, including an online user guide.
When to use 111
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation.
Call 111 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
For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist in the usual way.
If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call when you're concerned about your condition, continue to use that number.
For immediate life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.
How does it work?
The NHS 111 service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics.
They'll ask you questions to assess your symptoms, then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you to the local service that can help you best.
That could be A&E, an out-of-hours doctor, an urgent care centre, a walk-in centre, a community nurse, an emergency dentist, or a late-opening chemist.
Where possible, the NHS 111 team will book you an appointment or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to.
If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, they'll immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.
Calls to 111 are recorded. All calls and the records created are maintained securely.
Information recorded during the call will be shared with other professionals directly involved in your care. Some of it will also be shared with NHS Digital to improve NHS 111 and 999 services.
Find out more about how this information may be used (PDF, 179kb).
