Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited our Beckenham call centre on 1 May to see at first hand how we handle calls to the service and in particular those requiring swine flu information.
In a letter of thanks to Joanne Shaw, NHS Direct Chair, he gave his specific thanks to what he describes as a ‘national institution’.
NHS Direct has seen a significant increase in call volumes over recent weeks. Overall, swine flu related calls break down to approximately 61.1% receiving home care advice, 25.9% being referred to their GP and 10.4% receiving health information.
Over the past few weeks the public have been offered many channels through which up-to-date information and advice can be easily found.
They include the national Swine Flu Information Line (0800 1 513 513 for pre-recorded information), FAQs and ‘symptom checker’ via the NHS Choices and NHS Direct websites, and also NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
NHS Direct continues to lead a multi-organisation group on the development of a national anti-viral assessment and authorisation solution.
