NHS 'crisis'

[Serial_Apologist]

I think there was the suggestion that 'teamwork' was appealing (or I read it in another article while digging around). Partnerships didn't work in that way (business side) and there was 'relative isolation' in the medical responsibility.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[oddoneout]

The Guardian reported on 29 December



I take it this refers to NHS111. While I have no direct experience of calling this line, I believe that the diagnostic process is IT driven, albeit delivered by staff in a call centre; and that a high proportion of calls end in a referral to a GP or A&E Department.

I wonder whether the overloading of A&E Departments is, in part, due to this service, which I believe was intended to relieve pressure on GP surgeries (presumably by offering low-level medical advice).

Anyone know....?

I believe that work is ongoing to address the default 'go to A&E' advice, but there is a problem reconciling triage by call centre with avoiding (litigation for) preventable medical crises. NHS111 is the GP out of hours 'service' for my surgery, and given the general impossibility of getting GP appointments I imagine it does get a lot of calls here at least. I would think that the peak reported above reflects similar difficulties elsewhere at a time when illness in general is going to be more prevalent.
Highlights the fact that a properly functioning primary care system is an essential part of dealing with a stretched NHS - prevention better than cure and all that.