Ukrainian guests

NHS 24

NHS 24 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

Call 111 and speak to a fully trained advisor who’ll ask questions about your symptoms. They’ll either give you self-care advice, direct you to somewhere for treatment or book an appointment with a clinician.

You can ask for an interpreter when you call.

Accident and emergency (A&E)

A&E is there for people suffering from genuine life-threatening emergencies, either from injury or illness. For example:

• loss of consciousness
• acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds
• stroke
• major trauma such as a road traffic accident

First, you'll be assessed when you get to the hospital, whether you’ve walked in or arrived by ambulance.

What happens next depends on the results of your assessment. Sometimes further tests need to be arranged before a course of action can be decided.

Call 999

If you’ve had an accident or need emergency help, and either you’re unable to or it’s not safe to get yourself to A&E, then call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Some conditions that require an ambulance are:

• persistent, severe chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
• if you think you or someone you are with is having a stroke
• lost consciousness
• fits that are not stopping
• when someone is in an acute confused state