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Friday, 25 January, 2002, 23:35 GMT
GP suggests patients should avoid helpline
NHS Direct was said to have a good safety record
A Hertfordshire GP has criticised the national health phone service NHS Direct on the day the National Audit Office praised the service.
Dr Colin Andrews has posters in his Berkhampsted surgery telling patients to ring him out-of-hours rather than call the dedicated 24-hour helpline. He told BBC News Online patients have to wait too long to speak to nurses and that too many patients were being sent to accident and emergency units by the service. His comments came on the day the NAO said more than 90 per cent of callers were satisfied with NHS Direct, which began in 1998. Waiting room Dr Andrews has put up two posters in his waiting room advising patients not to use NHS Direct. One reads: "If you are ill who would you rather talk to? A computer or a doctor?"
"To me it seems a bit of a crime. People are dying waiting to have operations. "They are blaming cut backs on nursing shortages but NHS Direct is taking nurses out of active duty and sticking them in front of computers." NHS Direct has been available across England and Wales since November 2000 by phoning 08454647. It received 3.5m calls in 2000 and 2001 and cost £80m to run but call volumes are set to double in the coming year. The NAO report did criticise the service saying some callers have to wait too long to speak to a nurse. 'Unnecessary' referrals But it said the service has a good safety record and evidence showed it could reduce pressure on other areas of the NHS outside of normal working hours. But Dr Andrews said he believed too many callers to NHS Direct were being sent to casualty, putting extra pressure on accident and emergency units. "How many people went to accident and emergency and how many people actually needed to go? "This is something we will never really find out." He said his experience had been that many referrals he has had through NHS Direct have been "unnecessary". Nevertheless he said he is resigned to the service expanding. "There would be a big political outcry if they stopped it now," he added. |
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