Can you call NHS 111 from abroad?
111 only works on phones in the UK. Here's how to get medical help when you're abroad, and when it's worth calling home.
If it's an emergency, call the local emergency number where you are: 112 across the EU and in many other countries, 911 in the US and Canada. DanaTel can't make emergency calls.
Why 111 doesn't work from abroad
111 is a short number that only connects on phone networks in the UK, and the NHS doesn't publish an international number for it. NHS 111 also covers England: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own services.
What you can use instead
- Help where you are. A local pharmacy, doctor or hospital can treat you. The NHS can't treat you abroad.
- 111 online. 111.nhs.uk is a website, so it opens in any browser, but its advice and the services it points you to are in England.
- Your travel insurance. Policies usually have a 24-hour medical helpline, printed on your policy documents. Call it before arranging treatment if you can.
- The GHIC. A UK Global Health Insurance Card, or an EHIC until its expiry date, lets you get necessary state healthcare in European Economic Area countries and some others. Treatment may be free, or cost what a local resident would pay. It isn't a replacement for travel insurance.
When it's worth calling the UK
Some things are easier with your own GP surgery: test results, a question about an ongoing condition, or ordering a repeat prescription to collect when you're back. GP surgeries have ordinary UK numbers you can call from abroad. See how to call your GP from abroad.
With DanaTel, calls to the UK cost £0.05/min + £0.10 per connected call, from the browser on your phone or computer.
This page isn't medical advice. Checked against NHS pages on 27 October 2026. DanaTel isn't connected with the NHS.
