In the area where I live, we have both. I was thinking about this and I think it’s great to have those. I think the UK also has a healthcare hotline. What about you guys?
For clarification:
– Healthcare hotline: a phone number (not necessarily from a hospital) where doctors or nurses can answer health questions. Where I live, it works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; calling is free; and a nurse answers any health questions you may have.
– Non-emergency rooms: obviously normal accident and emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, but some places also have an equivalent for things that need urgent care but aren’t life-threatening emergencies. There is one in my area, open 24 hours a day, because the closest proper emergency room is far away and emergency rooms are clogged here. For an example of when it’s useful, I went there when I had sudden ear pain, but only when I pressed down on my ear. I went there so I avoided going to a hospital and I got treated anyway because it wasn’t an emergency but it was worth being looked at.