New ways of accessing urgent care in Cornwall

Think NHS 111 First - easy read

This easy read video explains why should you contact NHS 111 first if you need help for something that's urgent but not serious or life-threatening. You can ...

As the proud providers of the NHS 111 service for Cornwall, we are pleased to announce a new way of accessing urgent - but not emergency care - in the county. 

Just contact NHS 111 by phone or online at any time of day or night, to find out where you should go and when and if needed, expert clinicians will arrange for you to be seen at the Emergency Department (ED) or at our range of other treatment units.

Please do not simply turn up at your ED. You may be directed elsewhere and may have to wait longer for treatment.

This is a new way of accessing urgent care in Cornwall, to make sure everyone stays as safe as possible during the pandemic

This new system will help the NHS manage the flow of patients when capacity in waiting rooms is much smaller than before, to maintain distancing and reduce the risk of infection

It also means you will get the right treatment, more quickly - and probably closer to home as well

And if you’re a visitor to Cornwall, you don’t need to look up details of NHS services if you need urgent treatment – just phone 111 or go online at: 111.nhs.uk

Arrangements have not changed for people with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Please continue to dial 999 as before.

How does it work?

The NHS 111 service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics. They will ask you some simple questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you straightaway to the local service that can help you best. That may be the emergency department, urgent treatment centre, minor injury unit, out-of-hours doctor, emergency dentist or a pharmacy.

Where possible, the NHS 111 team will book you an appointment or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to. If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.

Calls to 111 are recorded. All calls and the records created are maintained securely, and will only be shared with others directly involved with your care.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss/change in sense of smell or taste), use the 111 coronavirus service.

Accessibility

NHS 111 offers a video relay service that allows you to make a video call to a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. The BSL interpreter will call an NHS 111 adviser on your behalf, and you're then able to have a real-time conversation with the NHS 111 adviser via the interpreter. You'll need a webcam, a modern computer, and a good broadband connection to use this service.

If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can use the NHS 111 service through a textphone by calling 1800 1111. Calls are connected to the TextDirect system and the textphone will display messages to tell you what's happening. A typetalk relay assistant will automatically join the call. They'll talk back what you've typed to the NHS 111 adviser and, in return, type back the adviser's conversation so you can read it on your textphone's display or computer.

There is also a confidential interpreter service, which is available in many languages. Simply mention the language you wish to use when the NHS 111 operator answers your call.