NHS 111

NHS 111 is an English medical helpline, with a free to call three digit number, currently in pilot stage in three areas across England, and due to be rolled out nationally by 2013, at which point it will replace the NHS Direct 0845 4647 number which has been running since 1998.^[1][2][3] The pilot areas are in County Durham & Darlington, Luton and the East Midlands (Nottingham and Lincolnshire) where the service is currently offered and being refined for rollout.^[4]

The 111 helpline is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year and is intended for 'urgent but not life-threatening' health issues^[5] and complements the long-established 112 and 999 emergency telephone numbers for more serious matters, although 111 operators are able to dispatch ambulances when appropriate.^[4] The 111 non-emergency helpline is for health issues only; there is a 101 non-emergency helpline for police matters.

Origins and development

During 2007, the Department of Health's Our NHS, Our Future report identified confusion surrounding access to certain NHS services in England and suggested the introduction of a national, three-digit number for out-of-hours healthcare services could help simplify the situation. Arrangements to identify and secure a suitable non-emergency number for England began in July 2009^[6], with the number 111 allocated by telecommunications regulator Ofcom in December of that year^[7]. The health services of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be able to introduce their own similar services using the same number if they choose to do so.

In late August 2010, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government proposed that 111 could replace the existing NHS Direct telephone helpline in England^[8][9]. The suggestion of replacing NHS Direct with 111 proved controversial as it was seen by some critics as a "cut-price" replacement, due to likely replacement of NHS Direct nurses with NHS 111 telephone advisors lacking professional training in healthcare. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has since denied plans to close NHS Direct in England, claiming that existing staff would provide the new service and that merely the number would change.^[10][11][8]

Management of the service

The government announced its intention for the new NHS 111 number to be run by various providers on an "any qualified provider" basis, with an expected ongoing role for the incumbent NHS Direct NHS trust in running some of the services. NHS Direct are running the trials in Nottingham, Lincolnshire and Luton and are providing health information advice alongside the front line call handlers from the North East Ambulance Service in the County Durham and Darlington trial.

The first trial, in County Durham and Darlington, started on 23 August 2010, with Nottingham starting on 18 November, Lincolnshire on 22 November and Luton on 3 December.

European number

The NHS 111 service will also be available via the harmonised European number for medical advice 116 117 under reciprocal agreements made with fellow European countries to simplify and improve public access to recognised 'Harmonised Services of Social Value'.^[12][13][14].

References

1. ^ "Update on 111". NHS Direct. Autumn 2010. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/members/membersmagazinearchive/togetherautumn10/updateon111. 
2. ^ Helen Pidd (28 August 2010). "NHS Direct to be replaced by cut-price health advice service". Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/27/nhs-direct-health-phone-service. Retrieved 2010-08-28. 
3. ^ Alison Chung (28 August 2010). "Medical Helpline NHS Direct To Be Axed". Sky News Online. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Medical-Helpline-NHS-Direct-Is-To-Be-Axed-And-Replaced-By-The-New-111-Service/Article/201008415708224?f=rss. Retrieved 2010-08-28. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "NHS Direct delivering NHS 111 in East Midlands and East of England". NHS Direct. December 2010. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/commissioners/newsdirect/newsdirectarchive/newsdirect%20-%202010/newsdirect-dec2010/111eastmidlands. 
5. ^ http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_118861
6. ^ http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/three_number_non_emergency/summary
7. ^ http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2009/12/18/new-111-non-emergency-healthcare-phone-number-confirmed/
8. ^ ^{a b} "NHS Direct launches". NHS Direct. 28 August 2010. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en/News/LatestNews/NHS111Launch. 
9. ^ "Government confirms plan to scrap NHS Direct helpline". BBC News. 29 August 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11120853. 
10. ^ http://www.unison.org.uk/ournhs/nhsDirect.asp
11. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/09/10/nhs-direct-to-continue-after-condem-climbdown-115875-22550261/
12. ^ http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/numbering/guidance-tele-no/116-euro-numbers
13. ^ http://helplines.community.officelive.com/111consultation.aspx
14. ^ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/09/nhs_111

External links

• NHS Direct
• The Department of Health