Dial 111 for health advice
29 Apr 2014 02:28 PM
A new free and
easy to remember number for NHS 24 in Scotland is now up and running.
People looking for
medical help and advice can, from today (Tuesday April 29), contact NHS 24 by
calling 111.
It means callers
in Scotland will no longer be charged when calling NHS 24 from a landline or
mobile.
NHS 24 will
continue to deliver the same high quality service for anyone seeking advice and
support during the out of hours period until their GP surgery
reopens.
It previously cost
the price of a local phone call from a BT landline, with calls from other
landline service providers and mobile providers often costing more.
Health Secretary,
Alex Neil, said:
“I strongly
believe that our NHS should be free at the point of care for all, and this new
number will help to protect these founding principles of the NHS.
“The new
number is easy to remember, and free to call, which will ensure everyone across
Scotland can access support and advice from NHS 24 whenever they need
it.
“NHS 24
already provides a valuable service to patients across Scotland when their GP
surgery is closed, and there will be absolutely no change to the high quality
service provided through this new number.
“By
introducing the 111 number we are removing any barrier for the public to access
the health advice out of hours.
“This will
help to ensure people have access to health information and support, including
access to a GP, when they really need it.
“In
Scotland, the 111 number will be run by NHS 24 as a public service, in public
hands – serving the needs of patients.”
“This is in
complete contrast to the approach adopted by the NHS in England, where
different organisations, including private sector providers, are contracted to
provide the number in different regions.”
Mother-of-two Lee
Armstrong, from Edinburgh, supports the change to the new number.
Lee, 37, has a
seven-year-old daughter Charlotte who has type one diabetes. Charlotte, who is
a pupil at Wardie Primary School, was diagnosed with the condition when she was
four and now uses an insulin pump.
Lee has contacted
NHS 24 on several occasions looking for advice and reassurance when she is
worried about her daughter's blood sugar levels.
Lee said: "As
a parent, I have always found it useful to have someone at the end of the
telephone when GP surgeries are not open at the weekend or in the evenings. I
have always been impressed that information about Charlotte and her condition
is passed on quickly by NHS 24 to out-of-hours staff. On several occasions,
staff have gone above and beyond to make sure Charlotte receives the right
treatment or that I am given the correct advice as a parent.
“I think the
move to the free telephone number will make it even easier for parents like me
to contact the service in what is a positive development ."
NHS 24 Chief
Executive John Turner said: “By dialling 111, patients throughout
Scotland will receive the same high quality, trusted service that NHS 24 has
delivered for more than ten years. We will continue to work with our partners
across Scotland to provide high quality support to patients and their families
on the new number, which is easy to remember and free to call.”
"NHS 24 has
been serving the people of Scotland for more than ten years now and the move to
a freephone number represents the next stage in the development of the
country's provider of telehealth and telecare services."
Welcoming the
introduction of the new free phone number, Dr Andrew Buist, Deputy Chairman of
the BMA’s Scottish General Practitioners Committee, added:
“Creating a new free phone number for NHS 24 will remove barriers to
accessing this important part of our out of hours service. Patients will no
longer have to worry about the cost of a phone call when seeking urgent health
advice.
“NHS 24
provides an important service to patients at evenings and weekends for medical
problems that can’t wait until the GP surgery reopens, with healthcare
advice and, if necessary, access to a GP.”
To tweet about the new 111 number, use
hashtag #111Scotland.
NHS 24 will
continue to be contactable via the old number (08454 24 24 24) for a limited
time while callers get used to calling the new number. Call volumes to this
number will be closely monitored and a decision to close the line will be taken
at an appropriate time.
NHS 24 provides a range of telehealth and telecare services to Scotland. NHS 24
takes 1.5 million calls per year – and answers calls on average within
four seconds - from patients seeking help when their GP surgery is closed.
Scotland’s national telephone triage service has been supporting callers
in Scotland for ten years and is an integral part of NHS Scotland. NHS 24
maintains high levels of service throughout the year, including during periods
of peak demand such as the festive period when the service can receive around
8,000 calls per day.