During the Christmas and New Year period, NHS Direct helped over a quarter of a million people. Between December 20 and January 1 2009, we answered 255,562 calls, up 16% on the same period the previous year.
The busiest day was Saturday December 27 2008, when we answered 29,179 calls, followed closely by Boxing Day, when 26,130 calls were answered.
The increase in demand for our service was due to the early outbreak of colds, flu and a winter vomiting virus. During the Christmas week, 13% of all symptomatic calls were due to colds and flu, and 7% due to diarrhoea and vomiting.
