You need to make an appointment to see your doctor for non life-threatening illness. You don’t need one for an NHS walk-in centre, A&E and some pharmacists.
At NHS walk-in centres you can see an experienced nurse or doctor (although not all centres have a doctor) without an appointment. They offer advice, assessment and treatment for minor ailments and injuries such as cuts, bruises, minor infections, strains and skin complaints.
Life-threatening emergencies include: loss of consciousness/acute confused state and fits that are not stopping/persistent, severe chest pain/breathing difficulties/severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.
Visit Accident & Emergency or call 999 for life-threatening emergencies and severe injuries. Otherwise visit your GP, a walk-in centre, a pharmacist or call 111.
If a person’s mental or emotional state quickly worsens, this can be treated as a mental health emergency or mental health crisis. In this situation, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. Contact NHS Direct (or NHS 111 if available in your area) to find out where help is available. If you feel the person is in immediate danger then call 999.
To register for the emergencySMS service, text the word ‘register’ to 999 then follow the instructions you are sent. You can only use the service if you have registered first.
The emergencySMS service lets deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the UK send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the police, ambulance, fire rescue, or coastguard.
80,000 children will wake up homeless on Christmas Day in the UK. You can help homeless charity Shelter by donating your money or your time.
If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions (like spinal injury), they should be placed in the recovery position. Putting someone in the recovery position will ensure their airway remains clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid will not cause them to choke.
Choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags. That way you know you’re swimming in an area which is safe from dangerous currents, and you’re doing so under the watchful eye of the lifeguards.