RCN condemns ‘chaos’ surrounding NHS 111

Published: 25 March 2013

For immediate release: Monday 25 March 2013

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to 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, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

“NHS Direct has proved itself to be a vital source of information, reassurance and advice for people and families for many years now. The RCN believes that much of this expertise will be lost when services fully transfer to the NHS 111 service. To now learn that the NHS 111 service is already failing, and having to put out this call for help, shows that the plans have simply not been well thought through. NHS Direct is in the process of being mothballed, and many nurses have already been made redundant, and 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. Out of hours GPs and Accident and Emergency units are likely to pick up the burden and we fear that this could put even more pressure on the service”.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 02076473633, 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 nursing staff 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.