Need help fast?

Resident doctors' industrial action 14-19 November 2025 Resident doctors will be on strike from 7am on 14 November to 7am on 19 November 2025. It is more important than ever that you continue to follow the advice on this page during this time. Read more below.

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.

We also want to hear your thoughts on our two-step approach, as well as your experiences and views of services where you might get same-day care or advice, such as GP practices and pharmacies. Your feedback will help us improve these services for everyone.

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 it’s a life or limb-threatening emergency, go straight to the closest emergency department or call 999.

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
An urgent care centre, or 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.

Resident doctors' industrial action

All NHS services are expected to be under greater pressure than normal during the planned industrial action in November. Resident doctors will be on strike from 7am on 14 November to 7am on 19 November 2025.

During this time, it is even more important that you follow the advice on this page, to help you get the right care, in the right place, as quickly as possible.

Please also:

• Attend any scheduled medical appointments. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
• Use your GP practice as normal. They are not affected by the strikes.
• Only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
• Call 111 and select the mental health option in a mental health crisis, or visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health café. You can also text 0748 063 5199 for a response within four hours.

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.