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It is estimated that 768,404 Londoners go to A&E each year who could have been helped by NHS 111
Londoners are being urged to avoid unnecessary trips to A&E by getting help from an enhanced NHS 111 service, which now offers a wider range of clinical services in the capital than ever before. This includes direct access to advice from GPs, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and specialists in mental health, cancer and child health.
Dr Mathi Woodhouse, GP at Pinn Medical Centre, London said:
“NHS 111 in London can now offer patients an even wider range of medical advice direct from pharmacists, GPs, nurses and mental health specialists who work hand in hand with call handlers.
“Many of my patients tell me that if they had known that they could get advice on the phone instead of waiting for several hours in a busy A&E, they would have done so. We want to help people understand how NHS 111 can help them and reduce unnecessary trips to A&E, which will help our hospitals. I know that patients want high quality clinical advice, close to their home from trained professionals and this is what they can get from NHS 111.”
| Dr Mathi shares 5 things worth knowing about NHS 111
1. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s recently been enhanced and can now offer clinical advice, assessment and direction to the most appropriate healthcare service. 2. Depending on the situation, the NHS 111 team can connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist or even a GP, and can arrange face-to-face appointments if they think you need one. 3. NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisors who can assess if you need an ambulance, and if you do, one will be sent immediately. 4. NHS 111 has a confidential interpreter service available in many languages. 5. If you need a prescription, the service can organise to have it available for pick up at a convenient local location for you.
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London resident, Hemangini Bhatia shares her experience of using NHS 111:
“I called NHS 111 when my son was breathing very heavily with a wheezing sound. This happened twice, first when he was 4 months and later when he was 16 months. I found NHS 111 very helpful. The call handler asked a few questions, talked me through the process and then made an appointment at Hillingdon Hospital which saved me from going to A&E. As a result, my son was quickly diagnosed with croup and was successfully treated. I wouldn’t hesitate to call 111 again if I needed to.”
Mala Kumari shares her experience of using NHS 111:
“We were concerned when my 3 year old son was breathing heavily during the night so we called NHS 111. After asking about his symptoms the call handler arranged for an ambulance to be sent to us and my son was admitted to hospital. It transpired that he was allergic to dust and had an asthma attack. I am grateful to the NHS 111 team for their quick response to our call and the immediate action taken.”
For further information about NHS 111, please visit www.nhs.uk/111
