NHS Direct launches self-assessment tool
NHS Direct has launched an online self-assessment tool that it hopes will reduce demand on its telephone service over the winter months. The health helpline said the initial assessment tool would enable patients to bypass an initial telephone assessment and instead go on to the NHS Direct website to assess their symptoms and get advice. EHI […]
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111 becomes number for NHS services
UK Telecoms watchdog OFCOM has given the go-ahead for 111 to become the new three digit number for accessing non-emergency healthcare 24-hours a day.
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NHS Direct to miss KPIs
NHS Direct is to miss some of its key performance targets for the last three months of the year, after facing increased call volumes due to swine flu as well as staff shortages. The national health helpline told EHI Primary Care that it had faced “major service challenges” since the start of the financial year […]
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NHS Direct aims to become ‘web first’
NHS Direct aims to shift a ‘substantial amount’ of its work from the telephone to the web next year, its chief executive has revealed. Nick Chapman told E-Health Insider Live ‘09 that it aims to become a ‘web first’ organisation to deliver more value for money to the NHS, but that this would be a […]
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KPMG to provide digital strategy for NHS
The Department of Health has commissioned management consultants KPMG to report on a vision for a digital strategy for the NHS.
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NHS flu line to go live next week
The interim National Pandemic Flu Service is to go live in England from the end of next week, the Department of Health has announced. The service, renamed from the originally planned Flu Line, will consist of a dedicated website and call centres. Patients will be able to contact the service if they suspect they have […]
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Problems at flagship urgent care service
A flagship urgent care service covering five primary care trusts generated dozens of complaints from patients and doctors in its first two months of operation – and call handler NHS Direct had £23,000 withheld for failing to meet its contractual requirements. West Yorkshire Urgent Care covers more than 2m patients in Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale […]
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Interim flu line for 100,000 cases a day
The Department of Health’s interim flu line service is expected to be operational by next week, as the government predicts 100,000 swine flu cases a day by the end of August. The interim arrangements for the flu line, which has had its name changed to the National Pandemic Flu Service, have been put in place […]
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Extend phone outreach: expert group
NHS Direct and NHS walk-in centres could provide more telephone-based outreach services to patients with long term conditions, according to a new report. The Expert Group on Access to Primary Care, chaired by a GP and backed by decision support software suppliers Clinical Solutions, has published a series of recommendations aimed at improving access to […]
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Interim flu line plans unveiled
The Department of Health is drawing up plans for an interim flu line after admitting that its National Flu Line Service will not be ready until October. Health secretary Alan Johnson told the House of Commons that the alternative system would let patients call a single number and that this would generate the collection of […]
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