New Phone First Service for Health & Social Care Trusts in NI

A new Phone First service is being rolled out over the Health & Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland to cover some Emergency Departments and Minor Injury Units.

The Phone First service aims to ensure that patients can get direct access to the right care, avoiding busy waiting rooms and staying safe.

The service is designed for patients, including children, who are feeling unwell and considering travelling to an ED or Minor Injuries Unit with an injury or illness which requires urgent treatment but is not immediately life threatening.

When you call the ‘Phone First’ service your condition, or that of the person you are calling on behalf of, will be clinically assessed and arrangements made for you to access the most appropriate service to your needs.  This may mean offering you an appointment at the Emergency Department or Minor Injuries Unit, organising further investigations or redirecting you to your local GP or GP Out of Hours.

Northern Health & Social Care Trust:

• Antrim Area Hospital’s Emergency Department
• Mid Ulster Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit

Hours:  24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phone First number:  0300 123 1 123
Phone First Text Relay number:  18001 0300 123 1 123
Interpreter Now App:  https://interpreternow.co.uk/hscni

More info:  https://www.northerntrust.hscni.net/2020/11/30/phonefirst/

South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust:

• Ards Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit

Appointment only service:  028 9151 0110

Interpreter Now App:  https://interpreternow.co.uk/hscni

More info:  https://setrust.hscni.net/service/emergency-department/

Southern Health & Social Care Trust:

• Craigavon Area Hospital’s Emergency Department
• Daisy Hill Hospital’s Emergency Department
• South Tyrone Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit

Hours:  9.00am-6pm, Monday-Friday.

Phone First number:  0300 123 3 111
Interpreter Now App:  https://interpreternow.co.uk/hscni

More info:  https://southerntrust.hscni.net/get-in-touch/out-of-hours-and-emergency-contacts/phone-first-2/

Western Health & Social Care Trust: 

• Altnagelvin Hospital’s Emergency Department
• South West Acute Hospital’s Emergency Department
• Urgent Care & Treatment Unit in Omagh Hospital & Primary Care Complex

Hours:  8.00am-12midnight, 7 days a week.

Phone First number:  0300 020 6000
Phone First Text Relay number:  0870 240 5152
Interpreter Now App:  https://interpreternow.co.uk/hscni

More info:  https://westerntrust.hscni.net/phone-first-rolls-out-trust-wide/

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust:

• Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital’s Emergency Department

Patients who would have traditionally attended the Emergency Department on the Royal Victoria Hospital Site are now being diverted to their Urgent Care Centre (UCC).  Once triaged and assessed in the UCC, you may be either:

• Transferred to the Emergency Department for ongoing emergency care
• Provided with a more appropriate urgent care pathway, or
• Assessed and discharged with relevant treatment or advice by a medical practitioner.

More info:  https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/service/emergency-departments/

For all emergencies that are life threatening always call 999 immediately. This can include: Stroke, heart attack, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or major trauma.

It is important to note that Emergency Departments will always be a safe place for patients, and if they attend an ED without ringing first, they will not be turned away. If their condition is not life threatening they may have to wait longer or be signposted to another service.