111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 (366 in a leap year) days a year. Calls from mobiles and landlines are free and the service is intended to respond to peoples health and social care needs when:

• it is not a life-threatening situation, and therefore is less urgent than a 999 call
• the patient does not have a GP to call or a GP is not available
• the caller feels they cannot wait and is simply unsure of which service they require
• the caller requires health information or reassurance about what to do next

In the event of a life threatening situation dial 999

General information on health service can also be obtained by accessing the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk