Think which service

If you need support or medical assistance, our local health and care professionals are ready and waiting to provide you with the right help, at the right time, in the right place. All you need to know is which service best suits your needs.

We have put together a guide to help you ‘think which service’ is right for you. By knowing where to go, you’ll get the right advice, support and treatment as quickly as possible.

By simply thinking about which service to use before acting, we can help to make sure everyone in our local community gets the right help at the right time.

Remember, 999 and A&E are for emergency, life-threatening illnesses only

Think self care for a better winter
The dark nights and cold mornings make it easy to curl up on the sofa in front of the TV and forget about looking after ourselves. But by taking small steps during the colder months, you can help keep yourself and your loved ones well this winter.

Our self-care web page has information on how to treat common conditions such as cold sores, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, heartburn, dental pain and much more.

Here are some more self-help and self-care tips for taking care of yourself and looking out for others:

Get your Covid, flu and RSV vaccinations if you are eligible

Keep active, get outside and eat well

Build your strength, balance, and coordination, and wear shoes or slippers with a good grip to help prevent falls.

Your local authority offers a range of support and services to keep you healthy and well.

Keep warm and heat regularly used rooms in your house to 18c

If you are worried about money, struggling to pay bills or buy food, contact your local council for support. Visit the Derby City Council website, or the Derbyshire County Council website for more information.

Check in on older or unwell neighbours, friends and family members

Keep your medicine cabinet stocked with painkillers, rehydration and indigestion treatments, anti-diarrhoea medicine, antiseptic cream and antihistamines, and a First Aid Kit

Stay at home if you do get ill and wash your hands regularly

Contact NHS 111 online or by phone if you’re worried about any symptoms

Think vaccinations for complete protection

Flu and COVID-19 cases are likely to increase over the winter months, so getting vaccinated will stop you and others around you from becoming seriously unwell.

If you or a child or adult you care for are eligible for a vaccination, it’s important you book an appointment without delay.

To find out if you are eligible and to book your flu, covid and RSV vaccines, visit the nhs.uk website.

Think mental health services

It’s ok and normal for your mental health to change depending on how you are feeling and what is happening in your daily life.

If you have been feeling low or suffering from depression and/or anxiety for a prolonged period, reach out to someone you know or one of your local services for help.

There is support and guidance available on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website

Think NHS 111 if you need immediate help and are not sure what to do
If you or someone you’re with has a medical problem that isn’t life-threatening but requires immediate help, NHS 111 will get you assessed and directed to the right place 24/7, 365 days a year. Without the wait times.

By visiting NHS 111 online or ringing 111, you help keep GP appointments and A&E free for those who need them most.

When to use NHS 111

Visit 111.nhs.uk or ring 111:

24/7, 365 days a year for fast and simple access to a range of medical advice

If you or someone you’re with has a medical problem or issue that isn’t life-threatening but you need advice on where to go

If you think you may require an emergency face-to-face appointment with a relevant healthcare professional

If you need help with getting a repeat prescription or an emergency supply

If you require an emergency dental

If you need mental health assistance

Where will NHS 111 direct you to?

NHS 111 can give you advice and help for dealing with your symptoms, arrange for you to speak to a relevant healthcare professional, organise face-to-face appointments, and provide you with information on how to get a repeat prescription and where to get an emergency supply from.

Depending on what you need, you might be advised to:

call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency

go to an urgent treatment centre

see an evening and weekend GP (out-of-hours GP)

book a callback from a nurse

get urgent specialist support, for dental or mental health problems

contact your own GP surgery

see a pharmacist for help with a minor illness

look after yourself safely at home

Think Pharmacy for the right advice and medication for your condition
Think community pharmacy for over-the-counter medications and day-to-day ailments.

If you or your family become unwell, you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription. Local pharmacies offer many of the same services local GPs do and you don’t need an appointment.

Community pharmacists are highly qualified health professionals who can offer expert advice on lots of minor ailments and conditions.

Most Pharmacies across Derby and Derbyshire have late and weekend opening hours to fit in with busy schedules.

What common conditions can a pharmacist help with?

Speak to your local community pharmacist in confidence, without an appointment about:

Coughs, colds and the flu

Impetigo

Sinusitis

Sore throat

Infected insect bites

Shingles

Aches, pains & minor injuries

Oral contraception

Skin rashes and allergies

Urinary tract infections

Earache

Stomach aches such as constipation, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, or threadworm

Help with medication and repeat prescriptions

Advice on healthy living – how to eat better, lose weight, exercise and stop smoking

Benefits of visiting your local pharmacy

You don’t need to make an appointment

Your local pharmacy may have a consultation room allowing for privacy

Many illnesses can be treated with over-the-counter medicines and advice from your pharmacy.

A pharmacist will signpost you quickly to the right medical care if you have anything more serious.

A pharmacist can advise on how long you can expect to experience symptoms for.

Think GP practice for persistent or sudden symptoms
Most colds, coughs and sore throats will not get better with antibiotics and cannot be treated by your GP. However, you should see your GP if persistent, recurring problems are not improving with self-care.

You should also see your GP for:

Unexplained and sudden weight loss

Constant fatigue and unexplained tiredness

Persistent cough

Yellowing skin

Sudden, blinding headaches or migraines

A new or growing mole

A persistent high fever

Changes in bowel movements

Extended healthcare teams are now supporting patients in GP practices across Derby and Derbyshire.

Many local GP practice teams now include a range of healthcare professionals who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they specialise in and can diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions. You don’t always need to see a GP when you are poorly, and it is often the case that another healthcare professional is best suited to your needs due to their specific training and skills in certain areas.

Find out more about Multidisciplinary teams within General Practice.

Think Urgent Treatment Centres for urgent care
If you’ve hurt yourself, had a fall, burnt yourself or are suffering from another non-life-threatening issue, Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) are a fast and effective way of getting treated without the long wait in A&E.

Your local UTCs have a team of nurses, Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) and support staff to get you the help you need, fast.

By visiting your local UTC, you help keep A&E free for those who need it most and avoid the long waits.

When to use an Urgent Treatment Centre

Without the long wait times in A&E, your local UTC can treat you for:

Sprains and strains

Cuts

Broken bones, Fractures, Sprains and Strains

Stings and Bites

Wound infections

Minor head injuries

Minor burns

Animal bites

Minor eye injuries

Other minor injuries

Infections (skin, ear, eyes or urine)

If your condition cannot be dealt with at a UTC, they will refer you to your GP, the nearest A&E or another appropriate service.

Where are Urgent Treatment Centres located?

The five Urgent Treatment Centres in Derby and Derbyshire are open from 8am-8pm, even over the bank holidays. Up to date waiting times are shown on our website.

Derby Urgent Treatment Centre Entrance C, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GD

Ripley Hospital Sandham Lane, Ripley, DE5 3HE

Buxton Hospital London Road SK17 9NJ

Ilkeston Hospital Heanor Road, DE7 8LN (currently operating an appointment only service, call NHS 111 to book)

Whitworth Hospital 330 Bakewell Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, DE4 2JD

Think A&E for life-threatening emergencies only
Our emergency departments are open 24 hours a day if you have a life-threatening emergency.

Please keep 999 and A&E free for genuine life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 online or by phone or an Urgent Treatment Centre for other urgent care needs.

When to dial 999 or go to A&E:

Signs of a heart attack

Signs of a stroke

Sudden confusion

Severe difficulty breathing

Choking

Heavy bleeding

Severe injuries

Seizure

Sudden, rapid swelling

British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.

Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay

Think which service

By simply thinking about which service to use before acting, we can help to make sure everyone in our local community gets the right help at the right time.

Remember, 999 and A&E are for emergency, life-threatening illnesses only

Think vaccinations for complete protection

Think mental health services

When to use NHS 111

Where will NHS 111 direct you to?

What common conditions can a pharmacist help with?

Benefits of visiting your local pharmacy

When to use an Urgent Treatment Centre

Where are Urgent Treatment Centres located?

When to dial 999 or go to A&E: