South West NHS 111 service rated inadequate

[Northerner]

A "consistently failing" NHS patient helpline has been rated inadequate in a "damning" report.

Patients requiring emergency care in the South West were left waiting "for long periods", the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found.

Inspectors said the 111 service, run by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), put callers' safety at risk.

SWASFT chief executive Ken Wenman said the report contained "no surprises".

He said there was no evidence the service had caused clinical harm. but accepted it was "no way near what it should be".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36539768

 

[Ralph-YK]

I'm tempted to just go "Oh, that good!"

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The 111 service in Cornwall is a bit more than inadequate more like down right dangerous from the experience I had last year.

 

[Ljc]

It's not grand here either.
I know NHS direct wasn't perfect but I found them much better than 111

 

[Northerner]

It's not grand here either.
I know NHS direct wasn't perfect but I found them much better than 111

They had more clinically-trained staff - the Coalition government changed it to 'save' money by changing it to a scripted system with only trained people becoming involved when the computer says 'yes' Even NHS Direct was pretty bad - my neighbour worked for them and it was basically like working in a commercial call centre, with limits placed on time spent per case and targets to meet etc. No doubt this has got worse since it changed

 

[grovesy]

I knew a nurse who worked for NHS direct and I did not realise till I was talking to her that they took calls from anywhere in the country! Prior to that I thought they took calls locally!