NHS 111
111 is the free NHS non-emergency number. You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
NHS 111 call handlers can advise you where local NHS services are, help with prescriptions, offer self-care advice and even arrange appointments including giving you an arrival time at an Urgent Treatment Centre or A&E.
Emergency Medical Help
If you have a serious or life-threatening emergency – such as severe bleeding, breathing difficulties or chest pain – call 999 immediately or go to your local A&E department.
Minor Injuries
Urgent Treatment Centres or Minor Injury Units provide medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. They are able to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of minor injuries and ailments for both adults and children over one year old.
The Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres in East Sussex are located at:
| Crowborough Minor Injuries Crowborough Hospital Southview Road TN6 1HB01892 603602 | Lewes Urgent Treatment Centre Lewes Victoria Hospital Nevill Road, BN7 1PE01273 474153 | East Grinstead Minor Injuries Queen Victoria Hospital Holtye Road RH19 3DZ01342 414000 | Uckfield Minor Injuries Uckfield Hospital Framfield Road TN22 5AW01825 745030 |
Pharmacies
Pharmacies do more than just dispense prescriptions. They can provide advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, and aches and pains. Pharmacists can also offer guidance on how to use your medicines, address concerns about side effects, and answer any other questions you may have.
Most pharmacies can now supply prescription medicine for certain conditions without the need to see a GP. This service, called Pharmacy First, enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions:
| Condition | Age |
| Acute otitis media (ear infection) | 1 to 17 years |
| Impetigo | 1 year and over |
| Infected insect bites | 1 year and over |
| Shingles | 18 years and over |
| Sinusitis | 12 years and over |
| Sore throat | 5 years and over |
| Uncomplicated urinary tract infections | Women 16-64 years |
To find a pharmacy near you, use the NHS – Find a pharmacy
Self Care
Treat minor illnesses and injuries at home with rest, simple painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen and basic first aid. A well-stocked home medicine cabinet can help you and your family to get the best treatment as soon as possible for a range of common illnesses, such as colds and flu.
Emergency Dental Services
If you need urgent dental help and advice during normal surgery hours please contact a Dentist. Do not contact your GP as they will not be able to give you dental treatment. If you don’t have a dentist and need urgent help, contact the Sussex Dental Helpline who can book you an appointment at an NHS dentist with availability.
Mental health services
Feeling unable to cope, worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?
For immediate help
If your life – or someone else’s life – is in immediate danger, please call 999 or go to A&E.
For same or next day help
You can get help with your mental health in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.
- Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (also known as the Sussex Mental Healthline)
- Call the Samaritans on 116 123
- Text the word SUSSEX to 85258
- Download the Stay Alive app – a suicide prevention resource full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
Feeling stressed, anxious, low or experiencing panic attacks?
If you live in Sussex, are over 18 and are struggling with common mental health problems such as feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you can refer yourself to your NHS Talking Therapies East Sussex: www.healthinmind.org.uk
Services are free, confidential and provide a wide range of support, including courses, online programmes and one-to-one sessions. They aim to help you understand your symptoms and take practical steps to improve your mental health.
Experiencing a significant change in your mental health?
You should call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 online for advice if you – or the person you are concerned about – experience a significant change in your mental health and are not already receiving care from mental health services.
This might include:
- Hearing or seeing things that are not experienced by other people, for example hearing voices
- Having strong beliefs that are not shared by others, for example believing there is a conspiracy against you
- Having excessive energy or movements, sleeping very little
- Behaving in a bizarre and out of character way
- Changes in behaviour like wanting to avoid people, lack of basic self-care.
Whilst these can be normal experiences, they can also be signs of something more serious.
