NHS 111 First

Londoners to get NHS urgent and emergency care in the right place, at the right time with 111 First

How people access parts of emergency care in London is changing, with ‘111 First’ helping them to get the right care, in the right place, more quickly. 

All Londoners are being asked to contact NHS 111 online or by phone first, before going to a hospital Accident and Emergency department (A&E/ED) if they have an urgent, but not life-threatening, medical need. 

The new arrangements will also help the NHS to better control the risk of coronavirus while space in A&E waiting rooms is reduced to ensure social distancing.

From 1 December, 111 can arrange an urgent face-to-face A&E appointment during an allocated timeslot anywhere in London, if someone needs it - meaning shorter waiting times and fewer people in A&E.  Arrangements are also in place to let A&Es know if shielding patients are coming so they can be kept safe.

NHS111 can also make direct appointments online, by phone or face-to-face with a variety of health services, including Urgent Treatment Centres, a patient’s own GP, specialised mental health crisis services, dental services and pharmacists for urgent repeat prescriptions and advice.  If needed, an ambulance can also be despatched.

For more information on when and how to contact the NHS for urgent or emergency medical help, or how to contact NHS 111, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/