People across the North West are being urged to continue to use the NHS 111 online service (www.111.nhs.uk), for urgent health problems that do not need an emergency response.

It comes as latest data shows that more and more people are using the NHS 111 service to get advice.  Between March 2020 and September 2022, calls to the NHS 111 service phone line grew by 10.6% in the North West region and use of the on-line service has grown by over 33%.

Jackie Bell, 111 Head of Service at North West Ambulance Service said: “For over fives, the online service works the same as over the phone and is already popular with people who want quick advice about the best options for getting the care they need.  These can include getting a call back from a trained clinician or nurse, booking them an appointment in A&E, or providing advice. Parents concerned about children under 5 should continue to use the phone service.”

www.111.nhs.uk can help you with:

• where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do
•             how to find general health information and advice
• where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
• how to get a repeat prescription
• get emergency dental appointments

Jackie added: “Recently our 111 phone line has seen a significant increase in in calls regarding antibiotics to treat Strep A. Unfortunately our 111 call handlers cannot support you with this information, we ask you to direct these queries to your GP. For repeat prescription queries, we ask you go direct to 111 online, where support is available for this.”

Dr Paula Cowan is a working GP, as well as the regional clinical director for primary care for NHS England:  “All areas of the NHS are under pressure at the moment and staff are working extremely hard to meet demand. It’s clear 111 is providing a vital service to many people.

“There is a wide range of expert help and advice sought for a number of conditions.  For November that’s 143,321 contacts with the 111 service, who may otherwise have been trying to get an appointment with a GP, called 999 or even turned up at A&E.”

In response to increasing demand, the 111 service is looking to expand its workforce

“It’s clear that people are getting the message about the importance of making sure emergency NHS services such as ambulances and A&E departments are kept free for emergencies,” added Dr Cowan.

“The on-line service in particular is a great resource if you want to just check your symptoms and a clinician will call you back if needed and it’s a good idea to use the 111 on-line in the first instance to save yourself some time and to ensure that you receive the right care at the right time for your symptoms.”

The NHS in the North West continues to face high demand for its services, particularly for the ambulance service, NHS 111, in A&E, in General Practice, for mental health services, and for cancer referrals.   In addition, Covid-19 is still with us and will continue to be an issue for the NHS.  The NHS continues to prioritise focus on recovering services and reducing waiting lists that have built up as a result of the pandemic.

The NHS 111 service is one part of the regional plans in place to manage demand for NHS services over the winter period.  You should still ring 999 if you experience:

• signs of a heart attack like pain like a heavy weight in the centre of your chest
• signs of stroke such as your face dropping on one side
• difficulty breathing
• heavy bleeding that won’t stop
• seizures
• or sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat or tongue