NHS chiefs plead for use of 111 phone line to ease A&E strain

HEALTH officials are pleading with the public to turn to the NHS 111 phone line amid record strain on A&E departments.

NHS chiefs are fearful that casualty departments – already under unprecedented strain – could struggle to cope over the bank holiday weekend.

They urged those without serious or life-risking injuries to use the controversial phone line. Half of people calling NHS 111 can now expect to speak to a call handler with clinical training, they said – a significant rise from its launch.

The non-emergency phone line has been beset by criticism since its launch four years ago, with claims too many serious illnesses were being missed, while those with trivial ailments were sent to A&E.

In particular, there was criticism that decisions were being made by call handlers without clinical qualifications. Today, health officials said record numbers of people are now using the service, with more than half receiving assessment from a clinical professional last month. Records from 2016 show just one in four callers received such a response.

Dr Gareth Stuttard, the national medical adviser for the NHS 111 service, said: “Around 20,000 people every day find NHS 111 offers expert advice without the need to visit A&E. Over the long weekend, anyone in need of help for a life-threatening emergency can continue to get it at their A&E, but with 16million people using NHS 111 in the past year alone, and the fact that more than half of all calls last month were dealt with by a health professional, there are safe alternatives to A&E for less severe issues.”

Last month there were 2.17 million attendances at A&E departments, a five per cent rise in a month, and saw performance against targets to treat patients within four hours slump to 89.3 per cent against a target of 95 per cent.

Members of the public called the NHS 111 service 1.4 million times last month, an increase of eight per cent compared with the same time last year.