Dr Brian Gaffney, Medical Director for NHS Direct, comments on NHS Alliance discussion paper
25 Jan 2012
Commenting on the NHS Alliance discussion paper ‘NHS 111: getting lost in translation?’ Dr Brian Gaffney, Medical Director for NHS Direct said:
“The NHS Alliance survey reflects significant concerns from GPs about the level of clinical engagement in developing and commissioning NHS 111 services. These concerns need to be taken seriously, not least because Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will inherit NHS 111 contracts and be responsible for the service in their local area.
“GPs have highlighted there is ‘no real ability to affect decisions’ and there is ‘little scope for local clinicians to shape this service to meet local needs’. From our experience of leading four of the seven pilots, we know that local clinical engagement is imperative for NHS 111 to deliver benefits to local health economies.
“We know from our pilots that NHS 111 supports fewer patients to self care than the 0845 4647 service, and refers more patients to face-to-face urgent care services. There is a danger of NHS 111 leading to substantial additional costs across the health system if it is not commissioned as part of the local urgent care services. The expertise for taking this forward lies with local clinicians and they need to be fully involved immediately.
“NHS 111 has the potential to improve access to urgent care and the actions proposed by the NHS Alliance need to happen very soon to influence the national roll out.”
View the NHS Alliance discussion paper 'NHS 111 - getting lost in translation?'.
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