NHS England and NHS Improvement has launched a campaign to increase awareness of how NHS 111 can help if you need medical help fast and you’re not sure what to do.
Jebin Akhtar from Birmingham called NHS 111 when her 9-month old daughter became unwell after she’d eaten scrambled eggs for the first time.
Jebin says: “As it was the weekend and the GP surgery was closed, I contacted NHS 111 who arranged a call back with a GP straight away. Once I spoke to the GP over the phone, they advised that due to her age, it would be best that I take her into a local walk in centre for a physical examination – and the NHS 111 team provided the details of the walk-in centres which would be open. In the end, I was advised that my daughter may be allergic to eggs or dairy and I have since booked an appointment with the hospital for an allergy test.”
“I’d recommend NHS 111 to anyone who has an urgent medical concern. Just like they did for my daughter, depending on the situation, the NHS 111 team can access a nurse, emergency dentist, or even a GP. If they think you need it, they’re also able to arrange face-to-face appointments or send an ambulance to you immediately. It’s efficient and it’s reassuring – exactly what we all need when we are faced with an urgent medical concern.”
Dr Jyoti Sood, a GP in London said: “As a GP, I know how worrying it is when we are unwell with an urgent medical concern. The good news is that NHS 111, whether over the phone or online, provides you with a convenient way to get the right help and advice from the right person when you need it.”
NHS 111 allows you to have access to medical help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone and online. So, if you think you need urgent medical help, call 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk.
