Ask your local pharmacist for advice
Your pharmacist can give you advice for many common minor illnesses, such as diarrhoea, minor infections, headache, or sore throats. You do not need to book appointments with a pharmacist and you can request to speak to them in a private consultation room.
Visit your GP
You can usually book appointments for the same day by calling in the morning. For everything else you can book appointments in advance via an app - please contact your medical practice to see if this is something they offer.
Some practices offer evening and weekend appointments.
The out-of-hours service is now provided by NHS 111.
NHS 111 for non-urgent help
For illnesses and injuries which are not emergencies, please call NHS 111 or go online https://111.nhs.uk/
You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. Simply dial 111 on your phone.
Urgent Treatment Centres
Urgent Treatment Centres can treat injuries such as burns, sprains, cuts and foreign bodies in the eye, nose and ear.
Find your local Urgent Treatment Centre
Accident & Emergency department
Call 999 or visit the Emergency Department if someone is unconscious, in a confused state, having fits which do not stop, experiencing severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or severely bleeding. NHS 111 can also call an ambulance for you if they think you need it.
Mental health help
For help and advice if you are feeling anxious, low, or need urgent mental health help, please visit the Kent and Medway NHS mental wellbeing information hub.
Not sure which service is right for you?
Go online to NHS 111
Download the NHS App on your app store
You can also visit NHS Choices - the UK’s biggest health website. Hundreds of symptoms, conditions and treatments can be searched for as well as health services near you.
