NHS Direct is now working with seven ambulance trusts across the country, to help them handle their non-urgent 999 calls (Cat C calls). These are:
Of all emergency calls made to ambulance trusts, approximately a third are non-urgent. Our experience so far has shown us a significant number of these Cat C calls can be dealt with safely by NHS Direct.
Up to 14,000 Cat C calls a month are now successfully handled by NHS Direct call centres across the country. Up to 17% of all Cat C calls we handle result in the user being given home care advice and only 7% of calls require urgent transport to hospital via the usual 999 route. This frees up valuable blue-light time.
NHS Direct is now handling South West Ambulance Service Trust’s calls using the electronic transfer of data via the Encounter Initiation process and we are working with other Ambulance Trusts to increase the use of this facility.
