What is NHS 111?
'''NHS 111''' is a telephone service for non-emergency medical advice. Many [[Ambulance|ambulance services]] employ the staff who answer 111 calls. The service was started in England in February 2014. There are similar services in Wales and Scotland, using the same number.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-22|title=A Three-digit Number for Non-Emergency Healthcare Services|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/three_number_non_emergency|access-date=2023-02-12|website=Ofcom|language=en}}</ref> It is available 24 hours a day, every day. It replaced NHS Direct (08454647) which was run by nurses. 111 is run by call handlers using a [[clinical decision support system]]. They have access to [[Nurse|nurses]] and [[general practitioner]]<nowiki/>s. They can arrange appointments with [[general practitioner]]<nowiki/>s, [[out-of-hours service]]<nowiki/>s and [[emergency department]]<nowiki/>s. In some cases, an ambulance may be sent to a 111 call if it is found to be more serious than expected. 111 online gives people access to a [[triage]] system using NHS Pathways [[Algorithm|algorithms]]. Children under 5 are not to use it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Get help for your symptoms - NHS 111|url=https://111.nhs.uk/|access-date=2023-02-12|website=111.nhs.uk}}</ref> During the alarm over [[Streptococcal pharyngitis]] in December 2022 the service struggled to deal with the number of calls. On 3 December there were 95,000 calls, but 37% were not answered.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Alison|date=2022-12-08|title=Strep A rush sees half of 111 calls abandoned in some ICSs|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/quality-and-performance/strep-a-rush-sees-half-of-111-calls-abandoned-in-some-icss/7033863.article|access-date=2023-02-12|website=Health Service Journal|language=en}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:National Health Service]] [[Category:Emergency services in the United Kingdom]]