Reading List

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

The sources below are grouped by urgent-care routes, care navigation, and medicines-specific guidance. Follow local protocols alongside national guidance.

1. Core Urgent Care and General Practice Sources

• NHS - When to call 999
  Practical public guidance on life-threatening emergencies and when to request an ambulance. Useful for severe allergic reaction, collapse, severe breathing difficulty and other emergency wording.
  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, 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 about general practice access and why staff may ask for details 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, urgent care and when 999 is more appropriate. Useful where reception staff signpost to Scottish urgent-care routes.
  https://www.nhs24.scot/111/

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

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

2. Medicines-Specific Sources

• NHS - Emergency prescriptions
  Public guidance on emergency supplies when a prescribed medicine is needed urgently. Useful background for patients who have run out of regular medicines.
  https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/emergency-prescriptions/

• NHS - Poisoning
  Public guidance on suspected poisoning, including medicines overdose and accidental ingestion. Useful for checking emergency escalation wording and reception boundaries.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/poisoning/

• NHS - Anaphylaxis
  Public guidance on severe allergic reactions, symptoms that require 999, and urgent actions to take. Useful for medication-allergy red flag examples and approved escalation wording.
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/

• NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service - Advising on missed or delayed doses of medicines
  Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance on missed and delayed doses, including high-risk medicines and reference sources. Useful for developing local escalation prompts and boundaries.
  https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/advising-on-missed-or-delayed-doses-of-medicines/

• NHS - Anticoagulant medicines
  Public guidance on anticoagulants, including what to do if doses are missed or too much is taken. Useful for understanding why anticoagulant dose errors and bleeding need prompt attention.
  https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/anticoagulants/

• NHS England - Community Pharmacy Advanced Service Specification: NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service
  Service specification covering urgent repeat medicines supply and pharmacist recognition of red flags. Useful for understanding how pharmacy routes can support urgent medicines access.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/community-pharmacy-advanced-service-specification-nhs-community-pharmacist-consultation-service/

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