Need urgent help? 999, 111, GP or pharmacy NHS 111 online Life at risk? Call 999
HealthAnswers

Health tools

Health tools and NHS services

Trusted NHS and selected external tools to check symptoms, assess mood, find local services and manage your care. HealthAnswers links to these services — we do not replace them.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

111 and pharmacy schemes are run by each UK nation. Use the service where you are, not an England pathway copied from a search result.

Urgent advice (111)

  • England: Call 111 or use 111.nhs.uk for urgent advice that is not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 online
  • Scotland: NHS 24 runs 111. Use it when you need urgent care and your GP, pharmacy or dentist is closed, or you think you need A&E but it is not life-threatening. NHS 24 — when to phone 111
  • Wales: NHS 111 Wales provides urgent advice by phone and online. NHS 111 Wales
  • Northern Ireland: There is no general 111 service. Use your GP surgery’s out-of-hours number, listed on nidirect. nidirect — GP out of hours

Community pharmacy

  • England: Pharmacy First can assess selected common conditions at some community pharmacies, including uncomplicated UTI in eligible women, sore throat, sinusitis, earache, impetigo, shingles and infected insect bites. Ask — not every pharmacy offers every pathway.
  • Scotland: NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is available if you live in Scotland or are registered with a Scottish GP. A community pharmacy can advise and often treat many minor illnesses without a GP appointment.
  • Wales: The Common Ailments Service lets many community pharmacies advise and treat a wider list of minor illnesses. Ask what your local pharmacy can do.
  • Northern Ireland: Pharmacy First NI covers selected everyday conditions. Ask the pharmacist what is available locally rather than assuming an England pathway applies.

Compare GPhC-registered pharmacies, including NHS services such as Pharmacy First, on Pick My Pharmacy.

Common questions

Can HealthAnswers diagnose my symptoms?
No. HealthAnswers provides general information only. For personalised advice about your symptoms, use NHS 111 online, speak to a pharmacist, or see a GP. Call 999 in an emergency.
Are these tools free on the NHS?
The NHS 111 online service, NHS service finders, NHS Talking Therapies and NHS App are free to use. Selected external services are clearly named and may have their own eligibility, availability or costs, so check the provider before using them.
What is the PHQ-9 and GAD-7?
They are short questionnaires used in UK primary care to screen for depression (PHQ-9) and generalised anxiety (GAD-7). A high score suggests you should speak to a GP — it is not a diagnosis on its own.
What is the NHS App useful for?
The NHS App lets you order repeat prescriptions, book and manage GP appointments, view parts of your health record and test results, register your organ donation decision, and use 111 online. It is free on iOS and Android. Setting it up needs photo ID once — after that it saves phone calls and queueing for routine requests.
When should I use 111 instead of my GP or 999?
Use 111 (phone or 111.nhs.uk in England, NHS 24 in Scotland, NHS 111 Wales) when you need medical help fast but it is not life-threatening. Northern Ireland has no general 111 service — use GP out-of-hours via nidirect. Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies: chest pain, signs of stroke, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, or loss of consciousness.
How do I find a pharmacy that offers Pharmacy First?
Ask the pharmacy, because not every site offers every pathway, and the scheme name differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Pick My Pharmacy lists GPhC-registered UK pharmacies and NHS services so you can compare what is nearby.