Comments on: Plan for non-urgent health number http://www.paramedic.org.uk/2009/07/09/plan-for-non-urgent-health-number/ News, information and comment for the UK pre-hospital care professionals Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:54:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Hickson http://www.paramedic.org.uk/2009/07/09/plan-for-non-urgent-health-number/comment-page-1/#comment-145 David Hickson Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:33:58 +0000 http://www.paramedic.org.uk/?p=1384#comment-145 Tee BBC headline is in error, it should read "non-emergency". The service is very much for urgent cases and all those short of requiring the 999 emergency service. Many will continue to pay premium rates to call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, which delivers revenue share income of one million pounds per annum. Until this has been replaced by 111, an alternative number - 0345 4647 - must be made available. This need not be a permanent replacement; however it is already set up and ready for use. The new (111) number must be priced bearing in mind that patients must not be paying NHS providers for NHS services and telephone companies must not be profiteering at the expense of the NHS. Whatever the fair rate that is set; there is no justification for excluding 111 from inclusive call packages. Tee BBC headline is in error, it should read “non-emergency”. The service is very much for urgent cases and all those short of requiring the 999 emergency service.

Many will continue to pay premium rates to call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, which delivers revenue share income of one million pounds per annum.

Until this has been replaced by 111, an alternative number – 0345 4647 – must be made available. This need not be a permanent replacement; however it is already set up and ready for use.

The new (111) number must be priced bearing in mind that patients must not be paying NHS providers for NHS services and telephone companies must not be profiteering at the expense of the NHS. Whatever the fair rate that is set; there is no justification for excluding 111 from inclusive call packages.

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