This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
111 service to be rolled-out nationally in Wales
Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced that the NHS 111 non-emergency helpline will be rolled out nationally.
Having been piloted in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board and Carmarthenshire areas since 2016, the service brings together NHS Direct Wales and GP Out-of-Hours call handling and triage into a single service.
An independent evaluation of the pilot found the service received over 71,000 calls in the first six months of operation, with 95 per cent or survey respondents saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the service. The evaluation also revealed a one per cent decrease in Emergency Department attendance in Abertawe Bro Morgannwg during the first six months of service.
Gething said: “I am pleased to announce that following the success of the 111 pilot we will be rolling out the service nationally over the next three years. I’m very encouraged to see evaluation which suggests a link between 111 and a decrease in ambulance conveyance. It is also clear from feedback that this service has been valuable in supporting patients and helping the NHS to treat patients with urgent care needs more effectively.
“We’ve been open and honest about the pressure our Emergency Departments are under, particularly this winter. People can help make a difference by using our health service sensibly. The 111service will support people to receive the most appropriate services for their needs, at the right time and in the right place.”
Chris Powell, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Area Manager for 111/NHS Direct Wales, added: “As the hosts of 111, we’re really pleased by the progress made and the encouraging feedback received during the early stages of the pilot. People living in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Carmarthenshire areas have been reaping the benefits of 111 for many months now, and soon everyone in Wales will have access to this service. This is another step towards a more modern approach to delivering urgent care, and we look forward to building on the success of 111 to date.”
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