111, 999 or A&E: where to turn in the UK when you suddenly feel ill

Urgent care in the UK works differently from the systems many new arrivals are used to. An ambulance is not called for everything, and you can get advice in the evening or at the weekend without an appointment with your own GP. Here is what the official NHS guidance says about which number to ring and where to go, so you do not lose hours queueing in the wrong place.

What is the NHS 111 number, and is it free?

The number is 111. Three digits, no area code, free from any landline or mobile including a mobile with no credit, answered around the clock every day of the year. You do not need to be registered with a GP and you do not need your NHS number to hand. It works across England, Scotland and Wales; in Northern Ireland the equivalent is the GP out-of-hours service. If the problem is life-threatening the number is 999, also free and also twenty-four hours.

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What 111 is for, in one line: you need medical help now, it is not an emergency, or you cannot tell which of the two it is. Calling 111 and being told an ambulance is on its way is not a wasted call — the adviser is the one who sends it.

What is NHS 111 and when should you call it?

NHS 111 is the service for when you need medical help right now but your life is not at risk. The NHS puts it plainly: "NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now." It is also the number to use when you cannot reach your GP during the day or when the surgery is closed. The service works through your symptoms and tells you where to go: an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, a pharmacist, or looking after yourself at home.

When should you call 999 instead of 111?

999 is for life-threatening emergencies only. The NHS names specific examples: serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. If the situation is that serious, dial 999 straight away rather than waiting in a queue on 111. If you are not sure whether you need 999, the NHS advises calling 111 first or checking your symptoms at 111.nhs.uk — and 111 will escalate the call to an ambulance itself if that is what your symptoms need.

When should you go to A&E, and when to an urgent treatment centre?

A&E is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies, and only for those. The NHS gives one specific instruction about getting there: do not drive to A&E. Either ask someone to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance. If it turns out you do not need A&E, you might be sent to a nearby urgent treatment centre — the step between a pharmacy and a hospital, and where most moderate injuries are actually dealt with.

What can NHS 111 do, and what can it not do?

It can: direct you to the right service; arrange a callback from a nurse; request an emergency supply of medicine you take regularly from a local pharmacy; and help with dental problems, including finding an emergency dentist. One detail about the nurse callback matters: you cannot request one yourself, the service decides.

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It cannot: issue a fit note for your employer, or make or cancel NHS appointments for you. For a fit note you need your own GP. That is the mistake that costs people a day — they ring 111 for a sick note and are turned down.

How does 111 online work and who is it not for?

111 online is the same service on the web: the site 111.nhs.uk and the NHS App. You answer questions about your symptoms and are told what to do next. There is an age limit: the online checker is for people aged 5 and over. If a child under five is unwell, do not use the online form — call 111 and speak to someone.

What if you cannot use the phone?

A text relay service is available for people who cannot use a voice call, and it runs 24 hours a day. One more practical point: callbacks usually take longer at weekends and on bank holidays, when the service is busier than usual. If you are planning around a Friday night or a bank holiday, allow more waiting time.

How do you choose in ten seconds?

Life-threatening, a stroke, a heart attack, a serious crash — 999. Help needed now but no threat to life — 111 by phone or 111.nhs.uk. A child under five — call, do not use the online form. A serious injury — A&E, but do not drive yourself. A note for your employer — your GP only, 111 does not issue one. This is the fork where most time gets lost, and it is worth knowing before the moment you actually need it.