You can also go directly to an emergency department (also known as Accident and Emergency or A&E).
NHS 24 is there to help if you need immediate advice about your health. You can call NHS 24 on 111 at any time if:
There are lots of places you can go to get advice about minor illnesses and injuries. These include:
You should contact your GP practice, optician or dentist before attending. Do not visit these services without an appointment.
Read further information about community health care services
NHS inform has health information to help you look after your own health and wellbeing.
You can search for particular topics, or look up your symptoms to access self-help guides and advice.
These guides show you the next steps, like who to call or which service to go to, and how urgently. These guides are produced by the same clinical team who support the 111 phone service.
Our online mental health resources include free apps for sleep, anxiety, and stress. They also have guides on:
Your college or university may also have mental health support services. You can check the Think Positive Hub to find out what is available at your particular institution.
If you’re struggling with your mental health or need emotional support, you can call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87. Breathing Space is open:
Breathing Space is available to anyone in Scotland aged 16 years old and over.
For urgent mental health support, call NHS 24 on 111 at any time. There’s no age restriction for this service.
Infectious diseases can spread easily in college and university communities. More face-to-face contact means you’re at higher risk of catching and passing on infectious diseases.
You can use Scotland’s Service Directory to look for:
The directory contains names, addresses, opening times and contact details for each service.
If you’ve moved away from your local area to go to college or university, you must register with a new local GP practice. This includes students who have moved from elsewhere in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK, and abroad.
Your GP (also called your general practice or family doctor) will be your main point of contact for healthcare while you’re in Scotland. There may be a GP on campus, and your college or university may have given you information on registering with them.
If you’re coming to Scotland to study full-time, and you live in Scotland lawfully, you can get healthcare from the NHS from the day you arrive until one month after your course finishes.
To register, contact your nearest local GP by finding them on Scotland’s Service Directory.
You should also register with a local dentist.
There are different ways to access the NHS 24 and Breathing Space phone services.
If English isn’t your first or preferred language, you can use the free interpretation service Language Line.
If you use British Sign Language (BSL), you can use the free BSL interpreting video relay service Contact Scotland BSL.
If you use a textphone you can contact NHS 24 on 18001 111 or, you can contact NHS 24 with the Relay UK app.