NHS 111

Last year I used this service for my 5 year old daughter who had tonsillitis I didn't have a call back for over 8 hours and they called at 11pm knowing we'd be in bed with a poorly 5 year old. I had to go to the walk in centre in the end for treatment on a Sunday this was prior to WMAS taking over and since they have the service is much improved

i've called twice and they've been really helpful, my sister has called them once and although the wait was quite long they did gel in the end

I called with a severe chest infection to ask if I should attend ED or the walk in centre and they called me an ambulance immediately.

I called them when I was worried for the safety of someone else. They arranged a welfare visit and were very kind and understanding

Very distressing experience on. The call responder did not take on board my problem, used an inappropriate tick list, was rude, and put the phone down. Did not listen when I tried to explain. Wished I'd not called but gone straight to A&E. Training in empathy for someone with an injury needed!

My Brother told me to phone 111 first as he was in chronic pain with his kidney, I am a carer to my Mother who has Alzheimer's and Bedridden so can't be left. My Brother was doubled up with pain ,they said they have assessed him and told him to get to A&E within the next hour he told them of his situation he couldn't drive with pain and I couldn't take him "hence "couldn't leave Mom he said any chance of a Ambulance and they said No you will have to make your own way get a taxi it was 4 .00 am in the morning and we couldn't get hold of a taxi fortunately we managed to wake up my other Brother who lives 1/2 hour away he took my Brother to the hospital screaming in pain and left him at the hospital unable to go in with him my other Brother had to leave him we understand because of Covid but when my sick Brother was being transferred from one hospital to another by Ambulance the driver was appalled to hear what 111 had told him he said there would have been an Ambulance available and My Brother ended up having a serious operation on his kidney luckily he got to A&E in time to be given temporary treatment but it could have been far more serious because 111 would not Authorise an Ambulance. In future I personally will not be using this service as I found it to be a waste of time not only the Ambulance problem but the time it took for a qualified Nurse to ring us to tell us what we already knew ! Waste of time and unreliable. Further more the Ambulance driver doing hospital transfer told my Brother its a disgrace because at the time they told my Brother there wasn't a Ambulance available that Ambulance driver was called out to someone who had a headache not a serious kidney problem.

I had a particularly bad experience last October. I am in my 60s and live alone, but despite the fact that I had suddenly been struck by severe dizziness (akin to being on fairground ride) which rendered me unable to get up off the floor and caused me to vomit profusely every time I tried to stand. I dialed NHS 111 and they were not helpful at all.

Spoke to 4 individuals and given incoherent advice throughout. One dental nurse advised that we took my severely disabled mother who was in severe pain with a broken tooth and exposed nerves to the Dental Hosptial as a walk in on a day that they were actually closed! Followed swiftly by another call who knew nothing about the previous call back ? (I thought these were all logged on a system!) referred us to an out of hours Emergency dentist that could not then treat her because of her physical disabilities, which we had already repeatedly advised all parties of. Then found also this 111 referred ‘emergency dental service’ was actually a private clinic and she (despite being on benefits entitling her to free care) was obliged to pay their private fees! Absolutely shocking dental service in this area! And very very poor support and service from 111.

My twin brother was advised by 111 to not go to the hospital because there was no swelling on his foot. turns out he had fractured his metatarsal bone in his foot. Time frame between the phone call and going to GP was 2 weeks because his foot was in too much pain.

I phoned NHS 111 due to symptoms of faecal impaction (already diagnosed). The on call Dr called an ambulance to take me to Sandwell Hospital, although I live in South Birmingham. I explained I had Borderline Personality Disorder and said I was feeling stressed due to the impaction; the Dr said that my mental health was not relevant to the referral. He sent the ambulance to a hospital I did not know, rather than the QE (or Heartlands) which I do. I felt extremely confused, resulting in me having a public breakdown in A&E.