Need help fast?

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 threatening, with two simple steps.

Learn more about the two steps, the services you will benefit from by following them, and other local services.

Step 1: Try self care first

If your problem is minor and you haven’t been able to treat it yourself at home, try:

These services are quick, easy, and often all you need.

Step 2: Need more help?

If it’s more serious or Step 1 didn’t work:

They’ll help book the right appointment for you.

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 EmergencySMS 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.

If you need to be seen on 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.

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, contact NHS 111, either online or by phone and they will help arrange the right dental treatment out-of-hours.

Bank holiday healthcare advice

GP practices will be closed on Monday 4 and Monday 25 May. There are other services available throughout each weekend, including pharmacies, urgent treatment centres, and a range of same-day appointment options are available through NHS 111 if you do need to be seen.
Continue to follow the two steps above to make sure you receive the most appropriate care:
– Step 1: Manage minor illnesses at home where possible, or seek help from a local pharmacy, NHS 111 online, or the NHS App.
– Step 2: If the problem persists or is more serious, use NHS 111 when your practice is closed, who will help book you into the right service.
Some pharmacies will be open on the bank holidays for advice and treatment for common illnesses.
If you do want to walk into a service, you can do this at the following locations:
– Oadby Urgent Treatment Centre: 8am to 9pm weekdays, 8am to 8pm weekends and bank holiday
–Merlyn Vaz Urgent Treatment Centre: 8am to 8pm, seven days a week
– Loughborough Urgent Treatment Centre: 24 hours, seven days a week (X-ray available 8.30am to 5pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends)
– A few walk-in slots are also available for minor injuries only at Rutland Minor Illness and Injury Service: 1pm to 9pm, seven days a week.
Emergency departments remain strictly for life or limb threatening emergencies only. You may be redirected to more suitable services if you use the emergency department for minor health problems.
For urgent mental health needs, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Alternatively text 0748 063 5199 for a response within four hours.
If you are travelling within the UK and become unwell, use NHS 111.

Right Care, Right Place

Right care, right place is all about matching you, and every patient, to the right level of care, from the right health professional, in the right part of the NHS, first time – when you need help quickly.

This is important so NHS resources are used in the best way to help everyone in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland get the care they need as quickly as possible.

Making general practice and NHS 111 the gateway to care will ensure we 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.

You should only use 999 or go to the emergency department in a life or limb-threatening emergency. If you go to the emergency department and it isn’t the right place for you, you may be asked to use another service instead. If it isn’t life threatening, you are advised to use your GP practice or NHS 111 before setting out.

Digital first where you can

The NHS is introducing more and more digital and online ways to use the NHS – for appointments, medication and information. We know this won’t be suitable for everyone, but where you can, we ask that you consider whether there is a digital option you can use, first. This will free up traditional methods of using the NHS, for example telephone lines, for people who aren’t able to use digital options.