• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Nearly 22,500 callers waited over hour for NHS 24 service in Sept, compared to just 549 in Sept 2020

Freedom of Information data showed only seven per cent of calls were answered within 30 seconds in September 2021, compared to 40 per cent the previous year.

SWNS by SWNS
2021-12-27 13:01
in News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Nearly 22,500 callers waited for more than an hour for the NHS 24 service in September, compared to just 549 in the same month in 2020.

Freedom of Information data showed only seven per cent of calls were answered within 30 seconds in September 2021, compared to 40 per cent the previous year.

The service has seen an increase in demand of up to 50 per cent since the start of the pandemic, with a quarter of patients phoning about covid symptoms, the Scotsman reported.

It has also changed use – from an out of hours only to a 24/7 service, with members of the public now asked to call before visiting A&E.

NHS 24’s Director of Service Delivery, Steph Phillips said while staff are working tirelessly, the increased demand and staffing pressures caused by Covid-19 or related self-isolation have meant some patients have had to wait for longer.

Patients calling with Covid-19 symptoms now account for up to a quarter of calls, she added.

Hundreds of extra staff have been recruited to deal with increased demands, and new office space has been acquired to allow for this.

RelatedPosts

Martin Lewis warns of mobile firms going rogue with post-Brexit roaming charges

Firefighters tackle London blaze as another week of hot weather gets underway

It won’t wash! Tory MP’s defence of Sunak funding boast falls FLAT

FOUR more regions set for hosepipe ban – will London be next?

In October 2021, more than 11,000 callers waited longer than an hour, compared to 391 in 2020, and none in 2019.

In the six months to November 2021, a total of 42,264 callers waited more than an hour, a 17-fold increase on the same period the year before.

Just under 450,000 calls have been unanswered since the beginning of 2021.

Frustrated

NHS 24 said calls may be unanswered because patients become frustrated at long wait times, but this also may be because they have been directed to other care pathways by the helpline’s pre-recorded message.

Ms Phillips said: “As with the whole of the NHS across Scotland, demand for NHS 24 services has increased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The unprecedented growth in demand for the 111 service means that, at times, people have experienced a longer wait time for their calls to be answered.

“As with all NHS staff, people working at NHS 24 have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, with a commitment to deliver safe and effective services 24/7, and answer every call as quickly as possible.”

The Scottish Government said it has increased funding to NHS 24 by over £20 million this year for extra staff and another call centre in Dundee.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We recognise that during the pandemic, some patients have experienced longer wait times than normal, due to increased demand during peak periods.

“While NHS 24 provides a highly effective and valuable service to patients across Scotland it is also a key part of our redesign of unscheduled care and people who feel they may need to attend A&E but it is not immediately life-threatening are asked to contact the service for an appointment to be arranged for them.

“This benefits both the patient and our health service and helps manage capacity within emergency departments.”

Related: Richard Branson: Man who sued NHS gives thoughts on vaccines and ending lockdowns

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

When the Covid pandemic will end according to WHO

Johnson defeated yet again by MPs as election ruled out until no-deal Brexit averted

Protests outside prison demanding release of man jailed for organising Scottish Independence demo

Yoga master has not had cold in almost twenty years…because he snorts cup of his own wee

Donations pile up outside synagogue as Afghan refugees left without shoes, spare clothes or money

Early Banksy mural accidentally painted over by new shop owners

TLE Sports Podcast: World Cup Special Part 1

Bristol Zoo’s baby gorilla, now three months old, but sees the world the wrong way round 

Brexit and pandemic each cost UK £250bn – but Brexit tally keeps rising

Spurs star spoke of “shock” as family were robbed at knifepoint inside London home

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.