Emergency & Urgent Care (England)

When to Call 999

Call 999 immediately if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Examples include:

• Chest pain or suspected heart attack
• Stroke (Face, Arm, Speech, Time)
• Difficulty breathing or severe asthma attack
• Unconsciousness
• Heavy or uncontrollable bleeding
• Severe allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis)
• Seizure that will not stop
• Serious burns
• Major trauma or road traffic collision
• Choking
• Suspected spinal injury
• Serious head injury
• Someone attempting suicide or at immediate risk of harming themselves or others

Paramedics can:

• Assess and treat patients
• Provide emergency medicines
• Take patients directly to the most appropriate hospital
• Refer to specialist emergency services where appropriate

If someone is unconscious, not breathing normally or in cardiac arrest, start CPR if you are able while waiting for the ambulance.

☎ NHS 111

Use NHS 111 when you need urgent medical advice but it is NOT a life-threatening emergency.

You can:

• Call 111
• Use the online service:
  NHS 111 Online

NHS 111 is available:

• 24 hours a day
• 7 days a week
• Free from mobiles and landlines

NHS 111 can:

• Assess your symptoms
• Arrange an urgent GP appointment
• Refer you to an Urgent Treatment Centre
• Book appointments where available
• Refer to emergency dental services
• Connect you with urgent mental health services
• Arrange ambulance dispatch if necessary
• Advise self-care when appropriate 

Accessible NHS 111

People who are deaf, have hearing loss or speech difficulties can use:

• Relay UK
• British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service
• Easy Read resources
• Support for people with learning disabilities and autism through adapted information and guidance 

🏥 Accident & Emergency (A&E)

A&E departments treat:

• Serious illness
• Major injuries
• Life-threatening emergencies

Attend A&E if you have:

• Severe chest pain
• Stroke symptoms
• Serious burns
• Broken bones with deformity
• Major head injuries
• Severe breathing difficulties
• Severe bleeding
• Serious eye injuries
• Loss of consciousness
• Serious poisoning
• Emergency mental health crisis where immediate safety is at risk 

You may be directed to another NHS service if your condition is better treated elsewhere.

🏥 Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs)

Urgent Treatment Centres provide treatment for illnesses and injuries that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening.

They commonly treat:

• Sprains
• Minor fractures
• Cuts requiring stitches
• Minor burns
• Infections
• Ear infections
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Skin conditions
• Minor eye injuries
• Minor head injuries

Many UTCs:

• Open at least 12 hours every day
• Accept walk-in patients
• Accept NHS 111 referrals
• Can arrange X-rays and basic investigations 

🩹 Minor Injury Units (MIUs)

Minor Injury Units treat:

• Small cuts
• Bruises
• Sprains
• Minor fractures
• Minor burns
• Wounds
• Animal bites
• Minor eye injuries

Availability varies by local NHS area. NHS 111 can advise whether a Minor Injury Unit or Urgent Treatment Centre is the best option for you.

🦷 Emergency Dental Care

Emergency dental treatment is available for:

• Severe toothache
• Dental abscess
• Facial swelling
• Dental trauma
• Broken teeth following injury
• Bleeding after dental treatment

If your regular dentist is unavailable:

• Contact NHS 111
• They can arrange emergency dental assessment where appropriate. 

🧠 Mental Health Crisis Support

Mental health emergencies are treated as seriously as physical emergencies.

Call 999 immediately if:

Someone:

• Has attempted suicide
• Has taken an overdose
• Is at immediate risk of serious harm
• Is threatening serious violence
• Cannot be kept safe

Go to your nearest A&E if safe to do so.

If urgent but not immediately life-threatening

Call 111 and choose the mental health option.

You may receive:

• Immediate assessment
• Advice from trained mental health professionals
• Referral to crisis teams
• Face-to-face crisis assessment where needed
• Support for adults, children and young people 

Parents and carers can also contact NHS 111 on behalf of a child or young person experiencing a mental health crisis.

💊 Pharmacy First

Many common illnesses can now be assessed and treated by participating community pharmacies without needing to see a GP first.

Conditions commonly supported include:

• Sore throat
• Earache
• Sinusitis
• Infected insect bites
• Shingles
• Impetigo
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (for eligible patients)

Pharmacists can:

• Assess symptoms
• Provide clinical advice
• Supply some prescription medicines where appropriate
• Refer you to another NHS service if needed 

👨‍⚕️ Out of Hours GP Services

When your GP surgery is closed:

• Call 111
• NHS 111 can arrange an out-of-hours GP appointment if clinically appropriate.
• Home visits may be arranged for patients who are unable to travel because of their medical condition. 

Accessibility and Equality Rights

Under the NHS England Accessible Information Standard and the Equality and Human Rights Commission's enforcement of the Equality Act 2010, NHS services should provide reasonable adjustments where needed.

You can request:

• British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters
• Language interpreters
• Easy Read information
• Large print
• Braille
• Audio information
• Longer appointments
• Quiet waiting areas
• Wheelchair-accessible facilities
• Communication support
• Autism-friendly adjustments
• Learning disability support
• Carer involvement where appropriate 

Useful Official NHS Links

• NHS Urgent & Emergency Care
• NHS 111 Online
• When to Use NHS 111
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Mental Health Crisis Support
• NHS Mental Health Services

This structure is suitable for an NHS information hub and is based on current official NHS England guidance.