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10/11/2003
Reid hails popular NHS Direct service
Health Secretary John Reid today hailed NHS Direct as one of "the most popular" health service reforms of the past few years.
The phone and website service offers round-the-clock advice and reassurance to half a million callers and half a million online visitors every month, making it the largest e-health service of its kind in the world. It has now received 20 million calls.
John Reid said: "Each week, 3% of people who ring NHS Direct do not recognise the severity of their symptoms and are transferred to the 999 ambulance service. In many cases this will have saved lives.
"But the service also plays an essential role in reassuring people. It is now the first port of call for anyone with a concern about their health, allowing them to make the right choices about getting the right care."
According to a major report released today by the Commission for Health Improvement, nine in 10 respondents who had used the NHS Direct service in England were either 'completely satisfied' or 'satisfied to some extent' with the way their call was dealt with.
(gmcg)
The phone and website service offers round-the-clock advice and reassurance to half a million callers and half a million online visitors every month, making it the largest e-health service of its kind in the world. It has now received 20 million calls.
John Reid said: "Each week, 3% of people who ring NHS Direct do not recognise the severity of their symptoms and are transferred to the 999 ambulance service. In many cases this will have saved lives.
"But the service also plays an essential role in reassuring people. It is now the first port of call for anyone with a concern about their health, allowing them to make the right choices about getting the right care."
According to a major report released today by the Commission for Health Improvement, nine in 10 respondents who had used the NHS Direct service in England were either 'completely satisfied' or 'satisfied to some extent' with the way their call was dealt with.
(gmcg)
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09 August 2006
Staff threaten strike over NHS job cuts
Staff at NHS Direct have warned that they may take strike action over plans to cut hundreds of jobs and close 12 call centres. The 24-hour nurse-led telephone and internet advice service for England is attempting to save £15 million by cutting jobs and closing the call centres.
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07 June 2004
Mental health research gets £5m funding boost
People with mental health problems are set to benefit from a £5 million funding boost for mental health research and the creation of the first ever Mental Health Research Network, it has been announced today.
Mental health research gets £5m funding boost
People with mental health problems are set to benefit from a £5 million funding boost for mental health research and the creation of the first ever Mental Health Research Network, it has been announced today.
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