NHS Direct has terrible winter
Some patients calling NHS Direct had to wait more than 24 hours to speak to a nurse during the Christmas period, it has been revealed.
News
NHS Direct contacts move online
NHS Direct’s online services were used more often than its telephone helpline during the festive season, newly-published statistics show.
News
DH calls for more 111 pilots
The Department of Health has sent letters to strategic health authorities to invite expressions of interest in piloting the NHS 111 service.
News
NHS Luton starts third 111 pilot
NHS Luton has become the third and final pilot area to launch its NHS 111 number for urgent, non-emergency calls.
News
Call to add 0345 to NHS Direct-111 mix
NHS Direct has been urged to allow patients to use 0345 as an alternative to the current 0845 number, before 111 is introduced. Telephone campaigner David Hickson says it will be at least three years before the three digit non-emergency number 111 is in use nationwide. In the meantime, he claims that most patients are […]
News
NHS Direct – number not service to go
Health secretary Andrew Lansley told reporters last week that NHS Direct would be replaced with a new 111 service, but the helpline says it is ‘business as usual’ and that only its 0845 number will be scrapped.
News
Row brews over end of NHS Direct
The government has defended its decision to scrap NHS Direct and replace it with a new 111 number service.
News
111 number goes live
The 111 number has gone live in County Durham and Darlington. The new three digit number is being used to supplement the 999 emergency number and NHS Direct. It connects callers to non-emergency care services, such as urgent and out-of-hours services, using the NHS Pathways software. The software has been developed by doctors, nurses and […]
News
NHS Direct to extend home working
NHS Direct has announced that it will treble the number of staff covered by its home working pilot by March 2011, following the early success of the scheme. The pilot has so far allowed 30 NHS Direct nurses in Milton Keynes and Plymouth to take calls from home. This will be increased to more than […]
News
Hine calls for evaluation of flu line
A review of the UK’s response to the swine flu oubreak has urged the Department of Health to commission an independent evaluation of the “highly innovative” National Pandemic Flu Service. The review, chaired by former chief medical officer for Wales Dame Deidre Hine, concluded that the government’s response to the pandemic had been “proportionate and effective” – but […]
News