‘Challenging’ Christmas for NHS Direct

NHS Direct’s web services overtook its phone services over the festive period, new figures show. Performance statistics published by NHS Direct show its combined telephone and online services were used over 830,000 times from December 20 to January 3, with half of those cont... <<Read more>>

John Prescott champions NHS Direct

In a further twist to the NHS Direct story, John Prescott has now waded into the argument.

The ex-deputy prime minister has apparently set up a website containing a petition opposing the move, which has attracted around 3000 signatures.

Mr Prescott told the Independent: “I've been inundated with messages on Twitter and Facebook from people who are appalled...

Is 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...