Getting NHS Help Fast

Posted on October 14th, 2025

Since the pandemic, demand for services, including those at GP practices, has increased. We need to do things differently to address this demand and join services together to make it easier for patients to access care. We also need to increase care and services that prevent people being admitted to hospital and help people leave hospital faster.

The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is also making it easier for people to get help quickly when they need it. We would therefore like to invite you to share your views and current experiences, to help improve services further.

For situations when your condition isn’t life threatening, there are two simple steps you can take to get you the right care based on your specific symptoms.

• Step 1: You should try to manage the problem yourself or get help from a local pharmacy, NHS 111 online, or the NHS App.
• Step 2: If that doesn’t work or the condition is more serious, you should contact your GP practice or NHS 111 (when your GP is closed). They will help book you the right appointment at the right place for your needs.

If you need to be seen on the same day, you might be offered an appointment at:

• Your own GP practice
• A pharmacy (through the Pharmacy First scheme)
• An urgent treatment centre
• An urgent care centre, or another GP practice or health centre (during evenings, weekends and bank holidays).

Other services

This information is about getting NHS help fast. You can visit  www.leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/need-help-fast for information on our other health services.

Have your say
To help us continue improving these services so they meet the needs of local people, we want to hear feedback and experiences by completing our questionnaire.

The questionnaire sections are:

• Getting the right NHS care in two simple steps
• Your GP practice
• Local pharmacies
• About you.

Further questions will be asked to those who live in Leicester City.

Anyone aged 16+ can take part.

You can:

• Complete the questionnaire online. https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/be-involved/need-help-fast-engagement/
• Email your views to: llricb-llr.beinvolved@nhs.net
• Call 0116 295 7572 to receive a paper copy of the questionnaire or information in another format, such as large print or easy read.
• Write to us at Freepost Plus RUEE-ZAUY-BXEG, Same Day Questionnaire, NHS LLR ICB, Room G30, Pen Lloyd Building, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TB
• Follow our social channels: @NHS_LLR.

Further information is available on our website. www.leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/need-help-fast

What happens next?

The feedback we receive will be independently analysed and will be used to help the ICB decide on any changes that are needed to same-day services and to improve how you get NHS services quickly when you need them.

A report of findings will be published early next year setting out the main themes from the feedback and if any changes are made, a further report will detail how we have used the information to inform our decisions.

Any other feedback we receive will help inform and influence future services.

Many thanks for your help,

Kind regards

Engagement and Insights Team
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board