Need Help Fast?
If it is not a life-threatening emergency, follow these two steps.
Need help fast?
Need help fast?
If it is not a life-threatening emergency, follow these two steps:
1. For minor illnesses or injuries: Check nhs.uk, use NHS 111 online or speak to a community pharmacist.
2. If you need more help: contact your GP practice, or use NHS 111 when your practice is closed.
Call 999 or go to an emergency department for a life or limb-threatening emergency.
The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is making it easier for you to get help when you need it quickly, for situations when it isn’t life or limb-threatening, with two simple steps.
Learn more about the two steps, the services you will benefit from by following them, and other local services.
In a mental health crisis, 24/7 mental health support is available over the phone by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option. This number is open 24 hours a day and is totally free and confidential. You can also text 0748 063 5199 for a response within four hours.
If you need urgent dental care at the weekend or over the festive period, contact NHS 111, either online or by phone and they will help arrange the right dental treatment out-of-hours.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I need help today?
If your problem is minor and not life or limb-threatening, first try self-care, NHS 111 online or your local pharmacy.
What should I do if my GP practice is closed?
Use NHS 111 online or call 111. They can assess what you need and direct you to the right local service.
When should I call 999?
Call 999 or go to an emergency department for a life or limb-threatening emergency.
Where can I find a pharmacy that is open?
Use the NHS Find a Pharmacy service to check pharmacies near you and their opening information.
Pharmacists can provide advice and treatment for many common conditions, including sore throats, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, sinusitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16 to 64. You do not always need to see your GP first.
Use the NHS website to find a pharmacy near you and check its opening hours.
What if I need urgent dental treatment?
If you need urgent dental care, contact your usual dentist first. If you do not have a dentist, or they are closed, contact NHS 111 online or by phone. They can help you find the right urgent dental service.
Call 999 or go to an emergency department if you have a serious or life-threatening emergency, such as severe swelling affecting your breathing.
Where can I get mental health support?
If you need urgent help with your mental health, support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to speak to a trained mental health professional who can help you get the right support.
If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999.
Contact your GP practice if you need medical help that cannot wait. Your practice will assess what you need and arrange the most appropriate care.
Depending on your needs and the services available locally, you may be offered an appointment at your own GP practice or another local NHS service. This may be with a GP or another healthcare professional.
If your GP practice is closed, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
If you have hearing loss, are deaf or have difficulties communicating you can also access NHS 111 by textphone on 18001 111 and British Sign Language (BSL) users can use the NHS 111 BSL interpreter service. Find out more about using NHS 111 if you have a hearing problem.
If it’s a life or limb-threatening emergency, go straight to the closest emergency department or call 999.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, you can use the Emergency SMS service to send an SMS text message to the UK 999 service where it will be passed to the ambulance service. You will need to register your mobile phone before using the service.
In a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. This service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Do you feel you need to be seen the same day?
If you need to be seen on the same day, your GP practice or NHS 111 will arrange an appointment for you in one of four places:
- Your own GP practice
- A pharmacy (Pharmacy First)
- An urgent treatment centre
- Another GP practice or health centre (during evenings, weekends and bank holidays).
Our aim is for general practice and NHS 111 to be the gateway for the right care. This will allow us to understand the symptoms of every patient so the right appointment is booked. This reduces the need to travel to walk-in services that might not be suitable or have long waiting times.
Need help fast at the weekend?
Continue to follow the two-step process above. At step 2 you will need to contact NHS 111, as GP practices are closed at the weekend. If you need to be seen they will help book you the right appointment, in the right place, and on the same day if needed. At the weekend, this could be at:
- a pharmacy (through the Pharmacy First scheme)
- an urgent treatment centre
- another GP practice, health centre or urgent care centre.
Alternatively you can use a walk-in service, but you are advised to use NHS 111 first to make sure it is the right place for you to go.
Need help fast this Christmas and New Year?
GP practices across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be closed from Friday 25 December to Monday 28 December 2026. They will reopen from Tuesday 29 December until Thursday 31 December before closing again on Friday 1 January 2027. Normal opening arrangements will resume from Monday 4 January 2027.
Many pharmacies will also be closed on the bank holidays, although some will remain open. A list of pharmacies open on the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year bank holidays will be published nearer the time on the find a pharmacy near me webpage.
Even when GP practices are closed, NHS services are available for people who need medical advice or treatment.
Follow the Need Help Fast two-step approach to get the right care in the right place.
Are GP practices open over Christmas and New Year?
GP practices in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be closed from Friday 25 December to Monday 28 December 2026. They will reopen from Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December and will be closed again on Friday 1 January 2027. Normal opening arrangements resume on Monday 4 January 2027.
What should I do if my GP practice is closed?
If you need medical help when your GP practice is closed, use NHS 111 online or call 111. NHS 111 will assess your needs and can direct you to the right service.
Are pharmacies open over Christmas and New Year?
Some pharmacies in Northamponshire will be open on the Christmas and New Year bank holidays. Check the bank holiday pharmacy opening times before travelling.
What should I do if I run out of prescription medication over Christmas?
If you take regular medication, check how much you have before Christmas and order repeat prescriptions in good time. If you need help with medication when your GP practice is closed, contact NHS 111 or speak to an open pharmacy.