Everyday health and NHS services, explained
When to Use NHS 111, A&E or Your GP
8 November 2026
Need help now?In an emergency, call 999. If you need medical help and aren't sure where to go, use NHS 111 online or call 111. This site shares general information only, not medical advice.
Knowing when to use NHS 111, A&E or your GP is easier once you know what each service is for. This article sets out how the NHS website describes each one, with a link to the NHS page behind every point. It's general information, not medical advice, and it can't tell you which service is right for your symptoms.
Quick answer: The NHS says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies, and A&E is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now, and it can tell you what to do. For anything that isn't urgent, contact your GP surgery.
Key Takeaways
Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies, such as serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks.
A&E is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies, and it's open 24 hours a day, every day.
NHS 111 can check your symptoms online or by phone and tell you what to do.
111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 for a child under 5.
Pharmacists can help with many minor illnesses, and your GP surgery is there for anything that isn't urgent.
999: life-threatening emergencies
The NHS page When to call 999 says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies like serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks.
When you call, the call handler will ask where the emergency is, what has happened and a contact number. The NHS says calling 999 doesn't always mean an ambulance will be sent. You might be told it's safe to make your own way to A&E, or to be seen elsewhere.
The same page lists ways you can help the ambulance crew while you wait:
stay with the person until help arrives
turn on lights and open curtains if you're in a dark house
call 999 again if the person's condition or your location changes
lock away pets
collect any medicine the person is taking, if you can
A&E: serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies
The NHS page When to go to A&E describes A&E (accident and emergency) as being for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. It's also called the emergency department or casualty.
The NHS gives some practical points for anyone going:
don't drive yourself: ask someone to drive you, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance
bring any medicines you take with you
ask for an interpreter if you need help in another language, including British Sign Language
tell staff straight away if you need help because of a disability
Everyone is assessed by a doctor or nurse before treatment. The NHS calls this triage, and it helps staff see the most seriously unwell people first. Arriving by ambulance doesn't always mean you'll be seen sooner.
If you're not sure whether you need A&E, the NHS says to get help from NHS 111.
NHS 111: help now, when it isn't a 999 emergency
The NHS page When to use NHS 111 says 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now. It can direct you to the best place to get help if you can't contact your GP during the day, or when your GP is closed.
You can use 111 online, use the NHS App or call 111. Online, you answer questions about your symptoms and you're told what to do next. 111 online is for people aged 5 and over, so call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
The NHS also says to call 111 rather than use the online service if you have complex problems caused by an existing condition, have a care plan from your doctor for the problem, or need end-of-life care.
Depending on what you need, 111 might advise you to:
call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency
go to an urgent treatment centre
see an evening and weekend GP
book a callback from a nurse
get urgent support for a dental or mental health problem
contact your own GP surgery
see a pharmacist about a minor illness
look after yourself safely at home
If a nurse is due to call you back and your symptoms get worse while you wait, the NHS says to use 111 again. If there are signs of a life-threatening illness, call 999.
Urgent treatment centres
The NHS page When to go to an urgent treatment centre says urgent treatment centres (UTCs) give urgent medical help when it's not a life-threatening emergency, and they can deal with many common problems people go to A&E for.
The examples the NHS lists include sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, and injuries, cuts and bruises. You don't need to be registered with a GP or have a fixed address to use one. You may be able to book an appointment or an arrival time through 111 online.
Pharmacies
The NHS page How pharmacies can help says pharmacists can give advice on illnesses such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains, and answer questions about your medicines. If they can't help, they can refer you to a GP or another health professional.
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, most pharmacies can also offer prescription medicine for some conditions without a GP appointment. Not every pharmacy offers every service, so the NHS suggests contacting the pharmacy before you go.
Your GP surgery
For anything that can wait for an appointment, your GP surgery is usually the place to start. If you've moved or haven't signed up with a surgery yet, our guide on how to register with a GP practice explains the steps.
When you use A&E or an urgent treatment centre, the NHS says your GP will usually be told afterwards why you went and what treatment you had, as long as you're registered with one.
The services side by side
Service | What it's for | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
999 | Life-threatening emergencies, like serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks | Call 999 |
A&E | Serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies | Open 24 hours a day, every day. Don't drive yourself |
NHS 111 | Help if you think you need medical help right now | 111 online (age 5 and over), the NHS App, or call 111 |
Urgent treatment centre | Urgent help when it's not a life-threatening emergency | Go in person, or book through 111 online where available |
Pharmacy | Advice on minor illnesses and medicines, and some treatments through Pharmacy First | Contact the pharmacy first to check what it offers |
GP surgery | Health problems that aren't urgent | Contact your surgery |
For a one-page overview, see our page on where to get NHS help.
Elsewhere in the UK
The NHS 111 page says Scotland has NHS 24 111, Wales has NHS 111 Wales, and Northern Ireland's health advice is on nidirect. In every part of the UK, call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Looking after yourself day to day
Most of the time, health is about everyday habits rather than urgent care. Our guide on how much physical activity adults need sets out the NHS weekly targets.
For rest and recovery, our round-up of NHS tips for better sleep covers what the NHS suggests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NHS 111 and 999?
The NHS says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies, like serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now, and it can tell you where to go, including to 999 or A&E if you need them.
Can I use 111 online for a child?
111 online is for people aged 5 and over. The NHS says to call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Should I drive myself to A&E?
No. The NHS says not to drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Do I need to be registered with a GP to use an urgent treatment centre?
No. The NHS says you don't need to be registered with a GP or have a fixed address to use an urgent treatment centre.