L – Telephone Signposting Toolkit

Laryngitis/Loss of Voice

Community Pharmacy or Face to Face Appointment

Send patients to pharmacy for advice and product purchase.

Laryngitis usually goes away by itself in 1-2 weeks.

Book a green face to face appointment if OTC treatment has failed.

Leg Pain

Musculoskeletal specialist or face to face appointment

Book an appointment with MSK specialist or sign post to external physiotherapy service.

Patients can self refer to a physiotherapist (see external contact information)

If the pain started after recent trauma advise to attend urgent care/A&E

CARE

If the patient is not coping with current pain levels and/or there are ‘medical’ causes for the pain or if they are under 16 years of age book an amber face to face appointment with a clinician.

Book a red face to face appointment if there is a possible infected joint (i.e. sudden severe joint pain, feverish, new red hot swollen joint).

Low Mood Adult

Face to Face Appointment

Non Emergency:

Book an amber face to face appointment.

EMERGENCY CARE (threat to life/harm):

Discuss with an available clinician on action to be taken (i.e. same day urgent face to face appointment/999/crisis).

Low Mood Child

Face to Face Consultation

Non Emergency:

Book an amber face to face appointment

EMERGENCY CARE (threat to life/harm):

Discuss with an available clinician on action to be taken (i.e. same day urgent face to face appointment/999/crisis).

Lumps

Face to Face Appointment

Book appointment

Book a red appointment if any symptoms or signs of infection such as fever, red and hot lump, tender to touch, discharging pus.

Swollen Feet / Legs / Ankles

Face to Face Consultation

Book a green face to face appointment.

Book a red face to face appointment if they have:

  • A single leg (particularly calf swelling) has become swollen especially if sudden onset/recent long haul flight
  • Associated with difficulty in breathing
  • Associated with chest pain

Weakness of Limbs or Face

Triage Symptoms First

  • Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.
  • Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
  • Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you’re saying to them.
  • Time – it’s time to dial 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.


  • Complete paralysis of 1 side of the body
  • Ask the person to stick out their tongue. If the tongue is crooked’ if it goes to one side or the other
  • Sudden loss or blurring of vision
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty understanding what others are saying
  • Problems with balance and co-ordination
  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • A sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before.
  • Loss of consciousness

If anyone is with the patient at home ask them to call 999 immediately.

Send a task message to the clinical team advising them of the patient situation.

If no one is at home with the patient, ask a colleague to call 999 for you whilst you remain on the phone with the patient.

Bring the call to the attention of your supervisor.

Face to face appointment

Book a red appointment