When to call 999
Please always call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Genuine, life-threatening emergencies include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of consciousness
- An acute confused state
- Chest pain / breathing difficulties / heart attack / cardiac arrest
- Fits / seizures that are not stopping
- Suspected stroke
- Severe bleeding
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe burns or scalds
- Serious head injuries
- Major trauma such as a road traffic accident or a fall from height
Also call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions. Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.
Which service should I access?
- Self-care - for things like minor cuts and grazes, coughs and colds
- Pharmacy - visit your local pharmacy for headaches, upset stomachs, aches and pains
- NHS 111 - visit online or call 111 for advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- GP - call your GP for symptoms that won't go away
- Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) / Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) - attend your local MIU or UTC for urgent non-life-threatening conditions and injuries such as sprains, pains, fractures, and burns
- Calling 999 - call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren't stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions, suspected stroke, and serious head injuries.