NHS Direct

July 2011

Welcome to the July 2011 issue of NewsDirect, the e-bulletin that keeps you up to date on what's happening at NHS Direct. We hope you will find it interesting and informative. Please feel free to email your comments on the e-bulletin to stakeholders@nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

NHS Direct - the next five years

The NHS Direct Board has approved the Trust’s business plan for the next five years (2011-16), outlining an ambitious vision and strategy to compete to deliver remote and virtual healthcare in the new NHS landscape.

How stakeholders rate NHS Direct

During spring 2011, NHS Direct commissioned Jigsaw Research to carry out the third annual research study into regional stakeholders’ opinions of the Trust and its services. The results are now available.

Improving our performance

High demand for our 0845 4647 and locally commissioned services during the first part of the year meant we struggled to meet some of our targets. It’s been our top priority to address any issues and learn from this challenging period.

NHS Direct launches free mobile app

NHS Direct has launched a free mobile app so the public can get health advice wherever they are. In the first few days, it was downloaded over 100,000 times and was voted number one free app within four days.

Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic

NHS Direct has been working with Channel 4 on a new live health show ‘Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic’ which enables viewers with medical concerns to seek advice and be ‘seen' by the doctors from the comfort of their own homes.

NHS Direct to deliver Healthy Change

NHS Nottingham City has commissioned NHS Direct to deliver Healthy Change, a new, innovative telephone-based referral and support service, for adults living in Nottingham who are at risk of developing heart disease.

New NHS Direct Chief Nurse/Clinical Director appointed

Tricia Hamilton has been appointed to the post of Chief Nurse/Clinical Director at NHS Direct. She has over 27 years of nursing experience, and has worked for the Trust for nearly 12 years.

Come and see us at the NHS Confed, 6–8 July 2011

NHS Direct will be exhibiting at the NHS Confederation annual conference and exhibition in Manchester on 6-8 July 2011. Come and see us on our stand (C44).

Contacting your NHS Direct regional director

If you would like more information about any of the articles in this bulletin or are interested in commissioning services from NHS Direct, please contact your NHS Direct regional director.