RCN condemns ‘chaos’ surrounding NHS 111

Published: 25 March 2013

The Royal College of Nursing has today expressed concern at news that almost 50 per cent of clinical commissioning groups have asked for help in running the new NHS 111 service from NHS Direct.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said that NHS Direct has proved itself to be a vital source of information, reassurance and advice for people for many years.

The RCN believes that much of this expertise will be lost when services fully transfer to the NHS 111 service.

“To learn that NHS 111 is already failing, and having to put out this call for help, shows that the plans have simply not been well thought through,” said Dr Carter.

“NHS Direct is in the process of being mothballed, and many nurses have already been made redundant. We fear that patients are being put at a disadvantage.

"If morale has plunged among the staff who are left, and chaos is governing the service in at least half of the areas in transition, then patients are bound to feel short changed,” he added.