National Emergency Alerts System test at 3pm this Sunday: Information for patients and visitors

Posted 19th April 2023

Graphic on red background informing people about the national emergency alerts system test at 3pm on Sunday 23rd April 2023

The UK Government are testing their new emergency alert system at 3:00pm this Sunday (23rd April 2023).

This is a new UK Government service that will warn you if there is a danger to life nearby. In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will get an alert with advice about how to stay safe.

What the test involves

The test alert will be at 3:00pm on Sunday 23rd April. All mobile phones and tablets that use 4G and 3G will get an alert. Your mobile doesn't need to have mobile data or WiFi to get the alert. During the test, your mobile phone or tablet might:

  • Make a loud sound even if it is set to silent
  • Vibrate
  • Read out a message

This will last for about 10 seconds. There will be a message on your screen that says: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK Government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby." In an actual emergency, you would follow the instructions in the message.

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse charities are keen to make sure that anyone experiencing domestic abuse is aware that test will be happening - especially if they have a hidden phone for use in emergencies. If this applies to you or anyone you know, follow the steps below on how to opt out of alerts.

If you are driving

If you're driving when you get the alert, you should carry on driving. Do not pick up the phone.

If you do NOT want to receive alerts

  • You will need to look in your phone or tablet's 'Settings' and find 'Emergency alerts'
  • Then turn off severe and extreme alerts
  • Be aware this may mean you miss important alerts about life-threatening emergencies close to you such as severe flooding, fires or extreme weather

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/alerts or watch the video below.