Abolition of NHS Direct Helpline (England)
The Department of Health has confirmed that NHS Direct's telephone number is to be phased out in favour of the new non-emergency NHS 111 number, following three pilots in the North East, East Midlands and East of England. NHS 111 is intended to work in an integrated way with local GPs, out-of-hours services, ambulance services and hospitals, for the benefit of patients and to help the NHS become more efficient. NHS Direct as an organisation is not being closed down, nor was this ever the Government’s intention. NHS Direct will have an ongoing role, along with other providers, in helping to deliver the NHS 111 Service and, in the interim, will continue providing local and national telephone and web-based services on behalf of its commissioners. The Labour party, which founded NHS Direct, voiced its opposition to the proposal, although it had promised to introduce the new 111 hotline nationally in its election manifesto.
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