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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