Sometimes you may need medical help when an illness or injury is urgent, but not an emergency.
When this is the case, it is important that you seek that medical health from other NHS services so that we can attend patients who genuinely need a highly-trained ambulance crew and the life-saving equipment on our vehicles.
There are several other NHS services which will be able to provide you with the medical advice and support you may need:
Urgent Treatment Centres – these are run by doctors, are open at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and are able to diagnose and treat many of the most common ailments people attend A&E for.
GP Surgery - GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem, especially one which has been causing you problems for several days or weeks. The healthcare professionals who work in GP surgeries can treat many conditions and give health advice. They can also refer you to other NHS services.
Urgent mental health support – there are lots of different urgent mental health support services and helplines available which can offer 24-hour advice and support for you, your child, your parent, or someone you care for. They can also arrange for you to speak to a mental health professional or carry out an assessment to find the right care for you.
NHS111 Online - NHS 111 helps people get the right advice and treatment when they urgently need it and both the phoneline and the online assessment tool are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NHS 111 can book patients in to be seen at their local A&E / emergency department or an urgent treatment centre, emergency dental services, pharmacy or another more appropriate local service.
Pharmacy – Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, stomach problems, and aches and pains. Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.