More than ever called helpline

Buddies who needed to use the NHS 24 helpline made up record numbers after the service saw its busiest Christmas and New Year period in Scotland since it began 15 years ago.

Over the two, four- dayweekends, call demand reached 95,784, Scotlandwide, far higher that predicted.

During the same period access to NHS 24’s web services reached a total of 238,089 visits.

NHS 24’s medical director, Dr Laura Ryan, said: “This season has been the busiest on record for all NHS 24 services and the 111 service was no exception.

“Tens of thousands of calls were made with coughs, colds and seasonal illness accounting for the majority of these calls.

“People have also been using our website to find information on symptoms, use the self help guides and find out when services are open.

“Hundreds of NHS 24 staff have worked extremely hard over this period when we have seen unprecedented demand.

“We know that at peak times, people calling our 111 service had to wait longer than usual to have their calls dealt with and we do thank everyone for their patience.”

Dr Ryan also thanked the NHS staff who gave up spending time with their own families over Christmas and New Year to look after those who needed it most.

A similar sentiment was echoed by Scottish Government He a l t h Secretary Shona Robison.

She said: “The dedication and commitment of NHS 24 staff in the face of the unprecedented demand the health service is facing is nothing short of heroic.

“All Scotland’s health workers should get the praise they rightly deserve for the invaluable work that they do all year round.

“I want to add my own personal admiration for our NHS staff and recognise how they continue to put the care of others first.”