The Department of Health has set a target for NHS 111 to be available throughout most of the country by April 2013. The aim is to provide a single telephone number for the public to use when seeking advice on appropriate NHS services for minor injuries and illness that require urgent
care. The key message is ‘Call 111 when it’s less urgent than 999’.
NHS 111 was launched in August 2010 in the North East. In November 2010, further pilots were launched in the East Midlands and Luton. When the scheme is launched nationally all calls to the NHS Direct 0845 number will be re-routed to the free-to-caller NHS 111 service. NHS 111 will provide a support structure to
improve patients’ access to NHS services whether at home or away if they need urgent care and do not know where to go. More information about the service can be found at www.nhs.uk/111