NHS 111 - NHS Essex Integrated Care Board

What is NHS 111?

NHS 111 is a free service that provides urgent medical advice and support.

You can use it if:

You need medical help quickly
You are not sure what service to use
You need urgent dental help
Your GP surgery is closed
You cannot contact your GP during the day

In an emergency

NHS 111 helps you get the right care at the right time. If an ambulance is needed, NHS 111 will arrange this immediately.

How to contact NHS 111

You can access NHS 111 in several ways:

Online

Use NHS 111 online (for people aged 5 and over)
Get help through the NHS App

By phone

Call 111 (free from landlines and mobiles)

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Support for accessibility and language needs

If you need extra support to use NHS 111, you can:

Call 18001111 using text relay
Use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service
Call 111 and ask for an interpreter in your preferred language

These services are free and confidential.

When should I use another service?

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if someone has:

Chest pain
Severe breathing difficulties
Signs of stroke
Loss of consciousness
Heavy bleeding
Severe injury

Contact your GP or pharmacist for:

Routine appointments
Ongoing health conditions
Repeat prescriptions
Minor illnesses

If a health professional has given you a specific number to call about your condition, continue to use that number.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes. NHS 111 is free from both landlines and mobile phones.

No. You will usually speak to a trained adviser first. A nurse, doctor, or other clinician will be involved if needed.

Yes. In some cases, NHS 111 can book appointments with GP out-of-hours services, urgent treatment centres, or other services.

Yes. Your information is handled securely in line with NHS data protection standards.

Yes. Online services are available for people aged 5 and over. For younger children, call 111 to speak to an adviser.

Emergency prescription requests can be submitted via 111 online: Emergency prescriptions – NHS 111

Contact NHS 111 if you have:

Severe toothache affecting sleep or daily activities
Dental pain not controlled with paracetamol or ibuprofen
Swelling, infection, or fever related to a tooth
A broken or knocked-out tooth
Severe pain or bleeding after an extraction
A damaged filling, crown, denture, bridge, or veneer causing pain
Severe bleeding from the gums
A lump, swelling, or sore in the mouth that is growing or not healing

NHS 111 can assess your symptoms and arrange urgent care if needed.

When you contact NHS 111, you will be asked a series of questions about your symptoms.

This may be done:

Online, using a secure assessment tool, or
By phone, with a fully trained adviser

A clinician may review your case if needed.

Based on your answers, you may be advised to:

Call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency
Visit an urgent treatment centre
See an out-of-hours GP
Receive a call back from a nurse or clinician
Get urgent dental or mental health support
Contact your GP surgery or make an appointment at a local dentist
Speak to a community pharmacist

Look after yourself safely at home

This video explains how to use NHS 111 online through the NHS App to get advice and support.

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