‘Keep calm and call NHS 111’ when your GP surgery is closed and you need urgent health care this Easter.
That’s the message from the NHS in the North East as health care services prepare for the busy bank holiday weekend.
People can play their part in ensuring services are used appropriately by ‘Keeping Calm’ and thinking about the right service for them this Easter.
Dr James Gossow, Regional Clinical Lead for NHS 111 said: “By ‘Keeping Calm and calling NHS 111’ North Easterners can ensure that our busy A&E departments are able to focus their resources on those people who are most seriously ill.
“The North East is one of the highest performing areas in the country for the NHS 111 service and was one of the first pilot areas when the service was introduced in 2010.
“When you call NHS 111, you will speak to the same highly trained call handlers who deal with 999 emergencies and be directed to the most appropriate service to meet your needs, first time.”
NHS 111 is the new number to call when you need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency.
Using the NHS 111 service will free up valuable resources in the North East’s A&E departments for those people who are most seriously ill.
The NHS 111 service has successfully been running in the North East since August 2010, when it was piloted in the County Durham and Darlington area.  It went live across the North East in April 2013 and is now available across the country.
The service is run by the North East Ambulance Service and is staffed by the same highly trained call handlers who deal with 999 emergencies.
NHS 111 will signpost you to the most appropriate service, first time and is available 24/7, 365 days a year and is free to call from landlines and mobile phones.
Don’t forget to follow the ‘Keep Calm’ campaign on Twitter: @keepcalmne
And use the hashtag #keepcalmne when you Tweet. Or visit www.nhskeepcalm.org.uk.