NHS services are busy but here for you

Health and care services can sometimes become much busier than normal. Often this can be during the winter months when the colder weather causes health conditions to flare up or there are more bugs and illnesses circulating.

The NHS provides advice all year round about the best way to get the right care, in the right place, when you need help quickly. When the NHS is busier than normal it is even more important that you follow this advice to keep the emergency department and the ambulance service free for people with life-threatening emergencies, and help everyone in our communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland get the care they need as quickly as possible.

On this page you will find a reminder of our advice.

Quick links

Step 1: Self-care
Step 2: If it’s more serious or self-care hasn’t worked
In a life-threatening emergency

Continue to seek medical help if you need it

Even if the NHS is busy, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
It’s important that you continue to attend any planned medical appointments.

Need help fast and it isn't life-threatening?

Step 1: Try self-care first

If you are generally in good health, you can look after minor illnesses and injuries yourself at home. This is known as self care. In most cases minor illnesses will get better by themselves, so you don’t need to use your GP practice or another NHS service.

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

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

Parents' self-care guide for children aged 0-9

Includes advice on fever, head injury, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties

Download the 0-9 self-care guide

Children have superbodies

Find out how to look after common illnesses in children without antibiotics

Graphic image of the front of a home medicine box or first aid kit

Interactive medicine box

Find out what to keep in your box at home

Step 2: If it's more serious or Step 1 didn't work

They will help book the right appointment for you – including an appointment on the same day and during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

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.

You can now get in touch with your GP practice using an online form on the practice’s website, in addition to telephoning and going to the practice in person. In some cases the form will also be available on the NHS App. All GP practices will have their form open during core practice opening hours for non-urgent appointment requests, medication queries and admin requests. Some GP practices may choose to allow their form to be used outside core hours and for urgent requests. Using an online form may be more convenient for many patients.

If you do chose to telephone the practice, and there is a wait for your call to be answered, you will be offered the chance to receive a call-back when you reach the front of the queue, to save you waiting on the phone.

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).

Walk-in options

If needed, there are also several walk-in services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland that can be used without an appointment.

However, it is recommended to use NHS 111 in the first instance so that they can arrange an appointment in the right place for you.

Using the ambulance service or the Emergency Department

You should only call an ambulance or go to the emergency department if you think you have a life or limb-threatening emergency or you have been advised to do so by a healthcare professional.

If you go to the emergency department and don’t need emergency treatment, to ensure you get the right care, you will:

Have a same-day appointment booked a local Urgent Treatment Centre
Be guided to another off-site service that’s right for your needs.

If you have already called an ambulance, only call the ambulance service back if the patient’s condition changes or you no longer require an ambulance.

If you arrive at hospital in an ambulance, you won’t be seen quicker in the Emergency Department than if you make your own way there.

Immediate mental health support

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. You can also text 0748 063 5199 for a response within four hours.

You can also visit a neighbourhood mental health café. There are neighbourhood mental health cafés spread around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, run by trained and supportive staff, who are there to listen and provide practical support when you need it most.

If you are struggling with your mental health, they can help you make plans to enable you to feel safer and more in control, and explain who to turn to for help in your local community.

How else can you help the NHS?

Get any vaccinations you are eligible for to help protect you and your family from becoming unwell, help stop the spread of illness in our communities and protect those who are more vulnerable.
You can also help stop germs spreading by ventilating rooms after visitors, washing your hand and cleaning surfaces regularly, staying at home if you are unwell to reduce the number of people you have contact with.
Please wear a mask if healthcare providers ask you to do so and if you are feeling unwell, please speak to your healthcare provider before attending appointments.
If you have a long term health condition, continue to take any medication as prescribed and keep an eye on how much you have to make sure you don’t run out. Follow your condition management plan to help avoid a flare-up and know your triggers so you can act quickly if you need to. Do seek help straight away if you do experience a flare-up.
Keep warm in colder weather. People with a long term condition can be more vulnerable to the cold. Keeping warm can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems.

What is 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.