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.
Brandie, a mother of four children aged between seven months to 11 years old, is a fan of the NHS 111 service. She has used it four times in the last year and has had a positive experience every time.
Brandie
Brandie
When Brandie had painful swelling in her gum one evening, she called 111 who were able to refer her to an out of hours dentist. The NHS 111 adviser found and called a local dentist on her behalf and she was able to visit the dentist straight away who helped to ease the pain.
Another time late one evening, Brandie’s son had a fever that turned out to be an infection in his tonsils. By calling NHS 111, the team helped her get appointment for her son at a local walk-in clinic that night.
NHS 111
Talking about her experiences, Brandie says: “I’m very grateful for the NHS 111 service which has provided help and advice whenever I’ve needed it over the past year. When you have children, you never know when you’ll be faced with an urgent medical concern. 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. In addition to all of this, I found the team are calm, efficient and always helpful. This is why I recommend NHS 111 to all those who are experiencing an urgent medical concern.”
Dr Patrice Baptiste said: “As a GP, I know how worrying it is when you 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.”
Patrice Baptiste
Patrice Baptiste
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.