NHS 111

Some time ago I found it necessary to get some urgent medical treatment for my husband. Rang about 6.30 a.m and explained my husband's condition and details were taken. After this the receptionist said she would need to pass the details to the nurse who would ring me back. After about 20 - 25 minutes the nurse rang back. I had to explain all my husband's symptoms again to her and then she wanted to speak directly to my husband who was too ill to explain himself anyway. All this took nearly 10 minutes only for the nurse to say she would have to get the doctor to ring me back. Once again, about 20 minutes later the doctor rang, I had to go all through the symptoms again only for him to advise me to take my husband to the A&E Department at the hospital! By this time it was 8 am and we made a decision that if my husband did not get any worse, we would wait until our GP surgery opened at 8.30. He was seen and treatment prescribed quite quickly.

If we had a medical emergency again and our surgery was not open, it would be better to go straight to the hospital or even ring 999

I've been in this country for over 6 months, I have not been able to find an NHS dentist. I have been smoking for over 17 years and have quit since in came to England, I now want to get my teeth checked to make sure there are no problems. I called 111 and they gave me a list of numbers to call but when I called the numbers I was told that they only take children. All the dentists say I should call NHS 111 but they don't give the right information.

First of all you have to give details to a clerical person, then a nurse rings you back and asks all the same questions, then a doctor rings you back and tells you to take the person to A and E. Several hours wasted!

Called NHS 111 to find an NHS dentist. They gave me a list of dentists accepting NHS patients, I was happy that I was finally going to get a dentist. I called up the numbers and most were not accepting patients whereas the rest had waiting lists. One had a waiting list of 200 people. It was a waste of time calling all these numbers. I had to top up my mobile.”