Ambulance is sent for a cat by NHS 111 line
THE new NHS 111 phone line is in such a mess that ambulances have been sent to deal with hangovers and a cat with diarrhoea.
Call centres workers also dispatched paramedics to people who complained of coughs, colds and being scratched by cats.
One ambulance was sent to help a man complaining that he could not sleep.
A whistleblower at a call centre in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, revealed one worker had a photo of a monkey on his staff ID pass.
It was claimed one caller to the non-emergency number had to wait eight hours before being called back by a nurse and doctor.
The service replaced NHS Direct and GP out-of-hours operations.
Health officials have launched an inquiry after three deaths were linked to its use and its roll-out nationally has been delayed.
Patients have complained calls go unanswered so they head to A&E causing more queues. And it has been claimed by doctors that 16-year-olds are being recruited.
Overwhelmed call centre workers have to ask patients up to 43 questions, whatever their ailment. The whistleblower said: “Things are a shambolic mess.”
An undercover investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches programme also found failings at call centres in Bristol and Dorking, Surrey.
Dr Peter Holden, the British Medical Association’s spokesman on emergency care and NHS 111, said: “This new evidence shows that in many areas the service is still not fit for purpose.”
Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: “Our NHS 111 service is relatively new and at this stage we are assured that it is performing well.”