Reading List

A curated Reading List to support safe first-contact escalation for red flags encountered by general practice reception and care-navigation staff.

The sources below are organised around urgent-care routes, care navigation, physical red flags, mental health crisis, safeguarding and medicines-related urgent contacts. Always follow local protocols alongside national guidance.

1. Core Urgent Care and General Practice Sources

• NHS - When to call 999
  Official guidance on life-threatening emergencies and when to call an ambulance. Helps identify symptoms that need immediate emergency action.
  https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-call-999/

• NHS England - How to improve care navigation in general practice
  Guidance on care-navigation processes, recognising red flags and the boundary between navigation and clinical decision-making.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/how-to-improve-care-navigation-in-general-practice-2/

• NHS England - You and Your General Practice
  Patient-facing information on practice access and why staff may ask questions to direct care appropriately.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/you-and-your-general-practice-english/

• NHS 24 Scotland - When to phone 111
  Scotland-specific guidance on NHS 24, 111 and when 999 is more appropriate. Relevant where reception staff signpost to Scottish urgent-care routes.
  https://www.nhs24.scot/111/

• NHS 111 Wales - Health advice and information
  Wales urgent-care and health-advice route for non-emergency urgent concerns.
  https://111.wales.nhs.uk/

• HSCNI - Phone First FAQs
  Northern Ireland information on Phone First and local urgent-care pathways. Useful where Phone First is in use.
  https://online.hscni.net/our-work/no-more-silos/phone-first-faqs/

2. Physical Red Flags and Deterioration

• NHS - Heart attack
  Public guidance on heart attack symptoms and emergency response. Relevant for chest pain with sweating, nausea, breathlessness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/

• NHS - Symptoms of a stroke: Act FAST
  Advice on recognising stroke signs and calling 999. Face, arm and speech changes should interrupt routine handling and prompt immediate action.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/

• NHS - Symptoms of sepsis
  Guidance on sepsis signs and urgent action for adults, children and babies. Watch for deterioration, confusion, reduced urine output, mottled skin and feeling very unwell.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/

• NHS - Allergies
  Information on allergic reactions and when to seek emergency help. Relevant for swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse after possible allergen or medicine exposure.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergies/

3. Mental Health, Safeguarding and Medicines

• NHS - Where to get urgent help for mental health
  Guidance on urgent mental health support and emergency contacts. Use this for situations involving suicide risk, self-harm or inability to keep someone safe.
  https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

• NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault
  Information on urgent medical and support services after sexual assault. Relevant when reception staff identify immediate safety or safeguarding concerns.
  https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/

• NHS - Poisoning
  Guidance on poisoning, overdose and emergency response. Use for accidental ingestion, suspected overdose or uncertain medicine quantities.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/poisoning/

Use these sources to inform local protocols, staff training, escalation scripts and reflection on first-contact safety in general practice.