NHS Direct Welcomes Programme To Reshape Healthcare In London

NHS Direct has welcomed Sir Ara Darzi’s report – ‘Simple and Direct Access to Emergency and Urgent Care Services Across London’ and hopes the potential reform outlined in the report will provide the opportunity for it to play an even more significant role in the health of Londoners.

Referring to the integrated ‘Hear and Treat’ model Matt Tee, new Chief Executive of NHS Direct, said: “We are particularly interested in working with the London Ambulance Service on a single number for urgent access. On average NHS Direct takes about 64,000 calls a month from Londoners and of these calls about 48% are completed within NHS Direct.”

Matt Tee added: “We are also encouraged by Sir Ara Darzi’s comments that the telephone and internet can play an even bigger part in the provision of healthcare. At NHS Direct we are already using leading edge technology to deliver health advice and information – and we are able to do this at a cost of £2.80 per head of the population per year.

“NHS Direct has the capability to offer many new services which have the potential to improve the patient experience. We already provide patients with the care they need in the convenience of their own home; we also provide them with the ability to self-care, for themselves and their family, and we also ensure that when patients need other forms of care we are able to signpost them to the right place at the right time. The experience of NHS Direct makes clear that the telephone, internet and digital TV, have a key role to play in supporting patient centred care.”