RCN slams decision to close NHS Direct service

Published: 09 November 2012

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has condemned moves to close NHS Direct services across England.

Responding to reports of widespread closures and job losses, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said: “For a while we have said that the plans to replace NHS Direct with 111 are a mistake and will result in nothing more than a pale shadow of what NHS Direct is. We have always been huge supporters of NHS Direct and believe it has matured into a highly effective service providing tried and tested quality advice.”

Dr Carter said everyone should be made aware that the Government is effectively abolishing a vital service purely for reasons of cost. “This is a foolish and ill-conceived decision.”

A recent independent report on the new non-emergency NHS 111 service showed that where NHS 111 services had been piloted, the number of ambulance service incidents for NHS 111 triaged calls had increased, adding to NHS costs and showing that it is a false economy to dismantle NHS Direct, said Dr Carter.

“This will only place increasing pressure on ambulances, A&E wards and GP surgeries, as the nurse-led self-care and telephone advice service is effectively lost. Had the consultation on the future of NHS Direct been wider then I am confident that the public would have responded with a resounding ‘no’.”