People across the South East 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 10.7%  in the South East region and use of the on-line service has grown by over 19.5%.

John J O’Sullivan, Associate Director for Integrated Care (999 & 111) at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “999 and 111 services continue to face significant pressure and our staff are working hard to provide appropriate help.

“We expect this to continue through Christmas and New Year. If you’re not facing an emergency and can’t wait until you speak to your own GP, then The NHS website – NHS (www.nhs.uk), NHS 111 online, or your local community pharmacy are useful options for people to seek help and advice.

“For the over-5s, the online service works the same as over the phone and provides quick advice about the best options for getting the care you need. Options include receiving a call back from a clinician, being booked in for an appointment at A&E or receiving advice about self-care. Parents with concerns about children under-5 should continue to use the phone service.

“We also urge people to continue to make use of their own GP during normal hours and to seek advice from pharmacists on health issues. People also need to act now to ensure they have ordered any repeat prescriptions, and that they bring essential medication with them if they’re not in their own homes at Christmas.”

Vaughan Lewis, South East Regional Medical Director, said: “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 and 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.

“The online service 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 online 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 South East 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.

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

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