Tag: NHS 24

NHS 24 celebrates 20 years of service

NHS 24 is marking its 20th Anniversary this May with the opening of a new centre in Hillington, Glasgow for more staff to meet the needs of people across Scotland.

Opening the new contact centre on behalf of NHS 24, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “NHS 24 has been a critical part of our NHS in Scotland for many years and it is fantastic to see the way the service continues to develop and adapt to the changing needs of the population.

“From the expanded 111 service available 24 hours a day seven days a week, to a key role in responding to the outbreak of COVID-19 and now dedicated mental health support through the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub and Breathing Space, it has become an indispensable part of our health service.

“The committed and professional staff providing these services work tirelessly day in and day out to make sure that the public always have access to the right information and support as quickly and as easily as possible. It is a pleasure to open the new Hillington centre and to be given the opportunity to put on record my thanks to everyone who has played a part in NHS 24’s journey over the past 20 years.”

NHS 24 took its first call at 14.10 in the afternoon of the 8th May 2002 at its Riverside Contact Centre in Aberdeen. The 27 millionth call to the service was made at 06.51 on Saturday 26th March 2022, also to the North contact centre.

Originally set up as a pilot project to support patients in Grampian, the telephone service quickly expanded and by 2004 was serving the whole of Scotland. NHS 24 now provides a range of services in addition to the core telephone triage which was changed to 111 in 2014.

NHS 24’s Chief Executive, Jim Miller, says the 20th Anniversary marks a significant moment in the organisations history: “As we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS 24 is taking the opportunity to look at its services, technology and workforce to ensure we continue to meet the needs of people across Scotland.

“The progress we have made in the past two decades is really impressive and we are determined to continue to work collaboratively with colleagues from NHS Lothian and across the health and social care system to make sure people get the right care in the right place.”

Scots reminded to take small steps to get set for a healthy Easter

People across Scotland are being encouraged to put a spring in their step this Easter with a few simple steps from NHS 24 to manage their health safely at home.

NHS 24’s Spring Campaign features lots of simple tips and advice on how to keep you and your family well by preparing for minor illness or bumps and scrapes.

NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan says: “Easter is one of the busiest times of year for Scotland’s health services. Lots of people tackle gardening or DIY over the break, so it’s a really good idea to think about what you might need at home to stay safe.

‘Treatments for minor injuries, such as plasters and antiseptic, are always useful to have at home, and your local pharmacy can help with advice about how to treat any minor cuts, bumps, bruises and scrapes.

‘If you have kids at home, some simple medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, cold and hayfever remedies are great to keep in the cupboard to make sure that any sniffles or sore heads don’t get in the way of enjoying the break.

‘This year many GP practices and community pharmacies across Scotland may have different opening hours over Easter so it’s useful to know where to go if you do require medical advice or you have run out of medicines. NHS Inform has lots of symptom checkers on common illnesses so you can get fast, clinically assured advice that can help you decide what to do next. Managing minor ailments at home means we can enjoy Easter and make the most of the holidays.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/spring.

Easter weekend: Remember to order repeat prescriptions, says NHS 24

Easter is always a busy time, and with the holidays already underway, NHS 24 is reminding people who take regular medication to check on their repeat prescriptions.

The Easter Weekend impacts on many local GP and pharmacy opening times, so it’s important that people check their prescription, order only what they need and in plenty of time.

Dr Laura Ryan, medical director at NHS 24, says: “Each Easter we receive thousands of calls from people who urgently require medication that they have run out of. It’s a good idea to make yourself aware of your pharmacy and GP opening hours.

“Visit www.nhsinform.scot and search for Scotland’s Service Directory to learn more about service availability in your local area.

“You should also take a look at your list of prescriptions to see which ones you might need to top up on, and make sure you order in plenty time to make sure you have them for the Easter weekend. 111 are always happy to help if you run out of medicine, but Easter is always one of our busiest periods, so a little forward planning can save on time and stress.

‘We’re all crossing our fingers for a sunny Easter, and some simple steps mean you can relax and enjoy the holiday.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/spring.

NHS Lothian: Choose the right care in the right place

Get the right care in the right place:

Self-help guides: NHS Inform

Advice about minor illnesses, treatments and medication: Pharmacy

Non-urgent treatment: GP

Urgent, but not life-threatening, help: NHS24 at 111

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.

NHS 24 expanded: new call centre opens in Dundee

New call centre to support non-emergency healthcare needs

A new NHS 24 call centre has opened in Dundee – allowing the service to help more people and further alleviate pressures on the rest of NHS and social care.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the new Dundee premises will help facilitate the increase in demand for the NHS 24 service which has been generated by the redesign of urgent care. This means that in non-life threatening situations, people should contact NHS 24 before attending Accident and Emergency or a Minor Injuries Unit.

With the demand from those becoming unwell with COVID-19, this has seen the 111 number move from an out-of-hours number to a round-the-clock service.

Around 140 staff will be in post in Dundee by the end of March, including call handlers, nurses, psychological mental health practitioners and mental health nurses.

Visiting the new centre, Mr Yousaf said: “We are experiencing the toughest winter our health and social care system has ever faced. With the current system pressures, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic, the role of NHS24 in giving support and advice to people who need it has never been more vital.

“I am extremely grateful for the contribution that NHS 24 staff have made during the pandemic, and particularly during these difficult winter months. I would urge everyone to make use of these services, by calling 111 or visiting NHS Inform when needed. Highly trained staff will be happy to give advice and direct you to the best place if you need treatment.

“This new call centre facility in Dundee will allow NHS 24 to further expand their capacity – helping more people and better managing capacity throughout the rest of the healthcare system.

“To help make this possible the Scottish Government has invested more than £20 million additional funding for NHS 24 this year for extra recruitment, and this new facility. All of this builds on the work undertaken as part of our £300 million investment in health and care services as part of our winter preparations.”

NHS 24 Chief Executive Jim Miller said: “NHS 24 has played a crucial role in Scotland’s response to the pandemic and our expansion in Dundee will ensure we are enable to  continue to provide high quality, safe and effective care to public in the    months and years ahead.

“Call handlers, nurses, psychological mental health practitioners and mental health nurses are already working in this key contact centre delivering care. I expect it to be at  full capacity by the end of March.”

NHS 24 staff thanked after exceptionally busy four day Christmas weekend

With GP practices closed on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th, public are urged to be prepared for the long Hogmanay weekend

NHS 24 staff have been praised for their hard-work and dedication after the national service saw exceptional numbers of people using both its telephone and digital services over the Christmas period.

Like all other parts of the health and care service NHS 24 staff are affected by the impact of COVID-19 infection.

Over the four day festive weekend, 44 000 calls were made to the 111 service with 25% of all calls related to COVID.

NHS 24’s online information service, NHS inform, was also busy with 2 million page views across the four days. COVID content accounted for 1.2 million of those views and around 45,000 people completed the COVID self-help guide.

The COVID information-only helpline also saw heavy demand with over 3,000 calls on Monday and Tuesday – up 60% on last year.

Commenting on the efforts of NHS 24 staff working across Scotland, Medical Director Dr Laura Ryan said the weekend was challenging and that COVID related staff absences had inevitably affected the time it took for calls to be answered:

“We knew our 111 service was going to be busy, even before the Omicron variant, but now we have the added challenge of staff affected by COVID, which means we’ve had less available people to answer calls.

“Higher demand for the service, with fewer staff, meant some people had to wait longer than we would have liked for us to answer their call.

“It also meant those who could work, had to work even harder to help as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. I’m exceptionally proud of everyone for their efforts over the Festive weekend.

“We’re now planning for the Hogmanay weekend, which we know will also be busy, so we are urging people to be prepared. GP practices are not open until Wednesday 5th January so people should pick up any regular medications they rely on.

“Home remedies such as simple pain relief, antihistamines or rehydration salts are a good idea and if you think you might need help or advice  for simple health matters, please use NHS inform as your first port of call, including all matters related to COVID-19.

“You may get the answer you need there without having to wait in a queue. It’s also important for people to remember that their local pharmacy is a great source of help for a wide range of conditions and many community pharmacies are open over the weekend. They can also help if you run out of your usual medicines

“If you do need to call us please do be patient – our staff are working as hard as they can and they need your continued support to deliver the best service they can every time, all the time.”

When should I call 111?

The 111 service provides urgent care and advice when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.

Coronavirus

If you need advice about coronavirus, you can find more information on NHS inform or use our online symptom checker for the quickest way to check your symptoms and next steps. This may save you time and help you to decide if you need to phone.

If you or your friends and family would prefer to use an automated phone checker phone 0800 22 44 88.

What service do I need?

If you have a health concern, or you are struggling with your mental wellbeing, you can find information on what to do next via our symptom checkers. These interactive guides will tell you who to contact and provide you with the advice and guidance you need.

Your community pharmacy is also available and can provide advice and treatment for a wide range of conditions including indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation, aches and pains, emergency medication and the morning after pill.

During normal working hours always contact your own GP for urgent advice and treatment. The 111 service cannot arrange appointments at your GP.

When your GP is closed and you cannot wait until they are open, you should phone 111 for out-of-hours advice.

Phone 111 …

If you think you need A&E, but it’s not a critical emergency.

Phone 111 before you attend A&E. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This service will provide you with urgent care you’ll be assessed for a range of concerns including cuts, burns, suspected broken bones, sprains and other injuries or illnesses.

This may involve a telephone or video consultation with a clinician from your local health board or an appointment to attend A&E or Minor Injuries unit, avoiding a long wait in a hospital waiting room.

Phone 999 or go straight to A&E . . .

For life or limb-threatening emergencies.

This might include a suspected heart attack or stroke, severe breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or severe injury.

When we’re busier than usual

During our busy times, when there’s lots of people calling us, it might take a little longer for us to answer your call.

Our busiest times are:

  • 6pm until 8pm weekdays
  • 9am until midday on Saturdays and Sundays

 If your call is urgent, please hold on because we will answer.

If you think you need to visit A&E but it isn’t a critical emergency please call 111 for expert help to get you to the right place for treatment.

111 can make appointments at our services, reducing the time you spend in busy hospital waiting rooms.

Visit: http://ow.ly/umzp50Hi2rR

Festive mental health with NHS 24

As we look ahead to another festive season impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, NHS 24 are encouraging people to put mental health first.

Lots of people are feeling anxious and unsure of where to turn for a bit of support so here is advice from the team behind NHS inform and the 111 service:

Clear Your Head web site

It’s natural to not feel yourself at times, and for anyone feeling that way, the Clear Your Head web site has simple tips for anyone feeling down, as well as guides on what to do to support others. clearyourhead.scot

NHSinform.scot

Anyone in Scotland with a digital device and having problems with anger or stress, having trouble sleeping, or struggling to cope with challenging situations, can find support by answering a few simple questions through this guide, nhsinform.scot/get-help-with-your-mental-wellbeing

During the summer of 2021 hundreds of visitors to NHSinform were directed to seek immediate telephone help while thousands more went on to self-directed care online using SilverCloud, a website with courses to improve mental wellbeing based on cognitive behavioural therapy.

An extensive range of mental wellbeing resources is available at

www.nhsinform.scot/mental-wellbeing

NHSinform also has a number of resources for users of British Sign Language that cover mental health issues at www.nhsinform.scot/BSL

editorial@ardrossanherald.co.uk

Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87

Answering almost 9,000 calls a month, the Breathing Space service continues to grow and evolve with the web chat service now offering online support.

Callers contact Breathing Space for a wide range of reasons, including relationship issues, stress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. However, over the last year the service has seen an increase in issues such as bereavement, work and money worries, and loneliness.

Breathing Space’s trained advisors ensure that each call is treated with patience and respect, knowing that it can often be the first time that a caller has contacted the service or talked about a problem.

111

For those experiencing mental distress the 111 Mental Health Hub is available 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week by calling 111 and following the telephone prompts. Anyone may call. There is no upper or lower age limit.

The most common reasons for calling include thinking about suicide, anxieties, low mood, psychosis, and self-harm. Where necessary, clinical support is offered and callers may be referred to local support services, community mental health teams, or exceptionally, emergency services. This team can also help with medication issues.

NHS Inform: Help and information for long COVID patients

People in Scotland suffering from ongoing COVID symptoms can find useful information and guidance from NHS 24 at www.nhsinform.scot/longer-term-effects-of-covid-19-long-covid

Most people recover from coronavirus within 4 weeks, but for some people symptoms can last longer, or new ones can develop. Symptoms can also change over time and can affect anywhere in the body. This is often referred to as long COVID and can include breathlessness, a cough, aches and pains, insomnia and low mood or anxiety.

The information on NHSinform.scot includes the most common symptoms, how a patient is assessed and how to manage ongoing symptoms.

NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan, says: “Coronavirus can vary from person to person, and sometimes recovery can take longer than we would like. The important thing is not to compare with others and to take the time to look after ourselves.

“The information on NHS inform can really help with managing ongoing symptoms until they do naturally fade away. Of course, you should contact your GP practice if you’re worried about the severity or persistence of your symptoms or they’re getting worse.”

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is important that people with long COVID symptoms get the right advice and having all the information in one place will hopefully make it easier for them. The information and support available at NHS inform has been designed to help people with their recovery.  

“The Long COVID Support Fund was established with £10m last month and was designed to maximise and improve the co-ordination of a broad range of existing services across the health and social care system and Third Sector in response to the condition.”