RCN calls for NHS 111 pause

Published: 30 March 2012

Following the publication today (30 March) of the Department of Health Statistics: NHS 111 Minimum Data Set - February, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“These statistics hide the demise of one of our most cherished NHS services - NHS Direct. People calling the service are only speaking to someone clinically qualified a third of the time (31 per cent of call time).
“We are extremely concerned that the loss of clinical expertise that allows people to self care at home will result in thousands of people taking unnecessary and expensive trips to hospital in ambulances and attending their GP practices. This is just passing anxious patients from pillar to post and will cost the NHS more money in the long term.
“We are also aware of hundreds of nurses who are facing the threat of dismissal by NHS Direct as a result of being asked to undertake unworkable shift patterns as they prepare to bid for 111 services.  However, the services provided by NHS Direct and NHS 111 are significantly different. NHS Direct is a clinically led service allowing self help for patients, NHS 111 will just direct patients to their GPs, A&E or send an ambulance for them.
“We call on the Government to pause this process, evaluate the evidence, and reconsider this move.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.