Going into and leaving hospital

I need help now

Emergency calls only: 999

  • Describe your exact location and, if making the call on behalf of someone else, say if the person is breathing, conscious, bleeding seriously or is having persistent chest pain.
  • If possible, get someone to signal where the ambulance crew is needed.
  • Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the roadside, day and night.

NHS Direct: 0845 4647

This is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service which is staffed by trained nurses who provide confidential healthcare advice and information. They listen to the details of your health problem and advise you what to do next.

Adult Services: 0845 603 5630

Mon - Thurs 8.30am to 5pm; Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm

All other times and for Weekends and Bank Holidays please use the Out of Hours number.

Contacts for Portsmouth, Southampton and other nearby authorities

Out of hours: 0845 600 4555

Mon - Thurs 5pm to 8.30 am; Fri 4.30 pm to Mon 08.30 am; All day on Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

The helpline is staffed by social workers and specialists who can deal with anything from advice about how best to help an elderly relative to getting help in an emergency.

Hospital accidents and emergencies

Accident and emergency (A&E) departments treat people with critical or life-threatening problems like head injuries, suspected heart attacks and serious illnesses or injuries. This includes severe breathing difficulties, suspected broken bones and heavy blood loss.

Local A&E departments can be found at:

If you are unsure whether an illness or a very minor injury needs to be dealt with at A&E call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 and ask for advice.

Local services

Search to find your local services - GPs, emergencies & urgent care, hospitals, Dentists, Pharmacies (chemists) and Opticians

Self help pages

Self help guide - find more information by selecting your symptoms from the A-Z list or by choosing the affected parts of the body from the body parts map.

Keep personal information safe

Say It Once - keep important information about yourself safely in one place, in case of emergencies

message in a bottle

Message in a bottle - encourages people living on their own to keep their basic personal and medical details in a small plastic bottle in the fridge.

If the emergency services are called to your home, they can quickly find vital information about your health. Bottles are funded by local Lions Clubs and are free to users. Ask your local GP surgery or pharmacy for details.