Saturday 4 May 2013

As crisis in NHS 111 helpline deepens... A&E chiefs fear bank holiday meltdown

The new NHS 111 system faces meltdown this weekend, doctors fear. 

 
The warning came as it emerged that at least three patients may have died because of failings in the helpline.

As well as the deaths, a further 19 cases involving poor care are being investigated – even though 111 has been running for only a few weeks. 

The figures emerged as A&E departments braced themselves for a surge of patients over the bank holiday weekend as a result of flaws in 111. Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said:

It has collapsed. What’s happening is that because people are not able to get through they are giving up and self-referring to A&E.

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