Phone First Service for Northern Trust

1st Dec 2020

Dear parents, Please find below information regarding a new service operating for those who require urgent care in the Northern Trust. ‘Phone First’ is designed for patients, including children, who are feeling unwell and considering travelling to Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department, Causeway Hospital Emergency Department or Mid Ulster Minor Injury 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. The Phone First service will improve patient safety in terms of preventing overcrowding and reducing long waits in our Emergency Departments. It will also help reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection and transmission. The services operates on a 24/7 basis and is available by calling 0300 123 1 123 or using the Interpreter Now App. We would encourage you, if you have reason to seek urgent care, to please ‘Phone First’ if the condition is not life threatening. If the situation is critical or life threatening then ring 999 immediately.