Symptoms changed between appointments? Who to contact
Start with the contact you were given at your appointment for "if things get worse"; otherwise contact your GP surgery, a pharmacist for medicine questions, or NHS 111 when you need help now and can't reach your GP. Call 999 (911 in the US) for a life-threatening emergency.
Why is this harder than it sounds?
When symptoms change, the hardest part is often not knowing whether it's "worth bothering" anyone, or who the right person is. Many people wait for the next routine appointment. The NHS's checklist for appointments includes asking "Who do I contact if things get worse?" precisely because that answer is hard to find in the moment. Nobody but a clinician can tell you what a change means; your job is to get it to the right one.
What should you do?
Check what you were told
Look at your notes or clinic letter for a named contact, a ward or clinic number, or instructions for what to do if symptoms change.
Your GP surgery
For changes that aren't an emergency, contact your GP surgery as you normally would, by phone, online form or the NHS App.
A pharmacist
For questions about your medicines, including side effects, a pharmacist can advise and refer you on if needed.
NHS 111
In the UK, NHS 111 online or by phone can help if you think you need medical help right now, including when your GP is closed. It will direct you to the right place.
999 or 911
Call 999 in the UK, or 911 in the US, for life-threatening emergencies. In the UK, if you're not sure whether you need 999, NHS 111 can help.
Write down what changed
When it started, what's different and what you've tried. Whoever you contact will ask.
What tends not to work
Waiting for your next routine appointment because you don't want to be a bother.
Searching your symptoms and deciding for yourself that it's nothing, or that it's serious.
Using an app, including Nura, in place of urgent care. Apps don't assess symptoms.
Common questions
When should I call 111 instead of my GP?
In the UK, NHS 111 helps when you think you need medical help right now and can't contact your GP, including out of hours. For non-urgent changes, contact your GP surgery.
What counts as a 999 emergency?
The NHS describes 999 as for life-threatening emergencies, such as serious accidents, strokes and heart attacks. If you're not sure, NHS 111 can help you decide.
Where Nura fits
Nura isn't a symptom checker and doesn't assess urgency. What it does: if you tell it during a check-in that symptoms are getting worse, it encourages you to contact your clinician, and if you mention things like chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke-like symptoms or immediate danger, it tells you to contact emergency services straight away rather than carrying on with the check-in. It also keeps your record of what changed so you can describe it.
Sources
General information, not medical advice. Nura does not diagnose, prescribe or replace your clinician. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US); in the UK, NHS 111 can help if you need medical help but it isn't an emergency.