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Call 111 when it's a concern, but less urgent than 999.

The NHS non-emergency number.

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It's fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

If you’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service available in your country:

• England – NHS 111 (BSL) interpreter service
• Scotland – NHS 24 111
• Wales – NHS 111 Wales
• Northern Ireland – NHS 111 Northern Ireland

You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

How NHS 111 works

You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.

You can ask for a translator if you need one.

Depending on the situation you’ll:

• find out what local service can help you
• be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• be told how to get any medicine you need
• get self-care advice

You can also get:

• a large print guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 272 kb)
• an easy read guide to NHS 111 (PDF, 962 kb)
• a British Sign Language (BSL) video about NHS 111
• an audio guide to NHS 111

A&E

The nearest accident and emergency department is at: The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Kent TN2 4QJ

Telephone: 0845 155 1000

Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

Urgent Treatment Centres

Urgent Treatment Centres are hospital-based GP-led centres which offer appointments that can be booked through NHS 111. Patients can also walk-in but may not be seen as quickly. UTCs are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend emergency departments for: find more information about UTCs here. Our local UTCs are at Maidstone Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

There is now a free app called WaitLess which shows waiting times at our local urgent treatment centres (UTCs) and minor injury units (MIUs). It displays the number of people waiting and the longest waiting times, along with travel information, so patients can decide to visit a site that is not so busy. The app is available free from iPhone App Store and Google Play Store – search WaitLess.

For advice about which service is most appropriate for your medical problem, visit Stop Think Choose to understand the healthcare options available. This will be promoted throughout the winter on radio adverts, social media channels and through printed material.