A number of times people have posted here with symptoms that need to be discussed with more qualified people Often the response is to ring 111 or 999 depending on the severity of symptoms. Not many people know that the 111 service is available on line at 111.nhs.uk/?&gclid=Cj0KCQiA... This can be useful for anyone nervous of talking to people or a medical problem that makes talking difficult.
If you have cause to use it feedback would be appreciated.
Can you access the online 111 site from your location?
I'm shocked - I thought 111 was available to everyone across all the trusts in England and Wales.
Another example of how stupid most politicians are!
Glad you said it - I was definitely thinking it!
I'm sorry to sound stupid but I didn't know NHS had devolved to Wales, I did think it was still under NHS England. When the availability of a service as essential as 111 is restricted owing to what amounts to a postcode lottery billing arrangement, it quite possibly puts lives at risk.
I always feel quite guilty when Down South lugging around my free 'scripts whilst the friends we're holidaying with have to pay for the same meds I get free.
I know in theory our 'free' services aren't really (and if ours can be 'free' that way why can't England's - is it population numbers, what?) but I still feel funny when I go with my friend to pick-up her prescriptions and she has to make sure she's brought along her purse.
If your friend has more than one prescription a month it’s worth her getting a pre payment certificate. This covers all prescriptions.
I have one as there is no way I could afford to pay for each prescription as I have about 15 a month. Ridiculous I know but keeps me going.
J
I've use the online 111 but found it extremely restrictive. It's simply a list of questions like a computer algorithm but one size does not fit all. The second you say yes to chest pain ( Even if you know it's indigestion) it says "Call an ambulance". It doesn't differentiate between a mild ache and crushing pain; there are lots of times it just doesn't describe what you have. Having said that, it's the exact same list of questions the teenage phone operator would use (They have no medical training) but at least on the phone you can insist on speaking to a nurse or doctor rather than just calling an ambulance. I Once scalded my hand very badly but it just said see your GP if it doesn't heal and the only reason was that I didn't say it was bleeding. If I had it would have said hospital immediately. It wasn't bleeding but it did need immediate treatment. IT's not a good system.
Poor UK Health Service Performance 
Hoping to support the Ambulance Service who supported me
Community heart failure services
Support services/counselling
