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HomeIs NHS Direct safe? Confusing over the future of NHS Direct heightened yesterday as the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that he had not announced the closure of NHS Direct, merely that its number would be phased out in favour of the new non-emergency number 111. Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham jumped on this, saying: “This is a welcome climbdown and great news for the staff who work for NHS Direct and all of us who rely on it. It's an incredible victory for the campaign to save NHS Direct.” The last Labour government had of course said that it had planned to bring in the non-emergency number 111 as well, but had not made reference to NHS Direct’s future. However, this stance has also attracted criticism from commentators, because of the potential confusion it could have caused the public, in not knowing what number to call. Writing on a Liberal Democrat website, Councillor Iain Ronberts said: “Labour’s idea was, apparently, to have both running side by side, and then let us all guess which one we should call when we, or a loved one, is in need of medical attention but probably not an ambulance.”Tell us what you think at opinion@nationalhealthexecutive.com |
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