NHS 111

This article focuses mainly on the service in England. For the equivalent service in Scotland using the same number, see NHS 24. For the service in Wales, see NHS Direct Wales.

111 is a free-to-call single non-emergency number medical helpline operating in England, Scotland and Wales. The 111 phone service has replaced the various non-geographic 0845 rate numbers and is part of each country's National Health Service: in England the service is known as NHS 111;[1] in Scotland, NHS 24;[2] and in Wales, NHS 111 Wales.[3]

The transition from NHS Direct (0845 4647) to NHS 111 in England was completed during February 2014[4] with NHS 24 Scotland (08454 24 24 24) following during April 2014.[5] NHS Direct Wales started a phased roll-out of a similar 111 service in late 2016[6] and completed it in March 2022.[7]

As of June 2018, the 111 number was not in use across Northern Ireland.[8] The NHS 111 service was extended to Northern Ireland from February 2020, although this is for advice relating to the COVID-19 virus only.[9] After dialling, callers will be asked to follow prompts to determine what nation they are calling from.[citation needed]

The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year and is intended for 'urgent but not life-threatening' health issues[10] and complements the long-established 999 emergency telephone number for more serious matters, although 111 operators in England are able to dispatch ambulances when appropriate using the NHS Pathways triage system.[11][12]

  1. ^ "NHS 111". england.nhs.uk. NHS England. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. ^ "NHS 24 - when to call 111". NHS 24.
  3. ^ "NHS 111 Wales". 111.wales.nhs.uk. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. ^ "February will see the last NHS 111 sites go live | News | Healthcare Today UK". Healthcare Today. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Our new number is 111 - Health Information and Self Care Advice for Scotland". NHS 24. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. ^ "New 111 Wales Service for Swansea, Neath, Bridgend & Carmarthenshire". NHS Direct Wales. 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  7. ^ "111 service now available across Wales". GOV.WALES. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ Pym, Hugh (16 December 2015). "Northern Ireland's health challenges". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Coronavirus: NHS helpline extended to Northern Ireland". 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Northern Ireland now has full access to the NHS 111 helpline service on coronavirus, the Department of Health has announced. [It] will replace the localised helpline [..] "people in Northern Ireland will have access to the same level of advice as citizens in England.""
  10. ^ "111 - The New Number for the Future of Non-Emergency Health Services : Department of Health - Media Centre". Department of Health. 23 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  11. ^ "NHS Direct delivering NHS 111 in East Midlands and East of England". NHS Direct. December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  12. ^ "NHS Pathways". NHS Connecting for Health. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.