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NHS 24 'sucks up money like a Hoover'

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Published Date: 01 July 2009
THE Scottish Government was urged to explore alternatives to the NHS 24 phoneline.
Dr John Garner, a GP in Edinburgh, said NHS 24 had been criticised for delays in answering calls and high staff absence.

"It has also sucked up money out of the health service budget like a Dyson Hoover," he said.

"Latest accounts for 2007/8 show its revenue budget was £54 million. And remember, this is just for telephone answering services, not for seeing patients."

Dr Garner told the BMA conference in Liverpool that though parts of the service had improved, some people were being sent to hospital when they did not need to go.

John Turner, NHS 24 chief executive, said: "NHS 24 is a fully integrated part of NHS Scotland."





The full article contains 133 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 30 June 2009 8:56 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Health of the NHS
 
1

Brodric,

01/07/2009 00:29:40
NHS24 is an absolute disaster. I don't like it at all. It is inefficient. You spend a lot of time on the phone to be told what you knew in the first place, that you have to go to the hospital. Or timewasters phone up at night when they should be using their doctor service.

And I wonder why in towns outside Edinburgh people are picking up the cost of a taxi to go to the nearest NHS24 centre. This is absolute rubbish.

The whole GP and A/E system needs overhauled. GPs need to provide better services out of hours - with no further payrise. And people need to realise that if we abuse the system with stupid problems that could wait for the GP then we won't have any service at all.
2

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 01/07/2009 02:22:36

~1 Brodric,

'Well-Said' And to-which I entirely Agree, I need not to make comment on this issue now, you have 'said-it-all'!!


3

John JP,

01/07/2009 08:24:23
#1 I agree.
4

Kenny A,

01/07/2009 08:44:38
NHS24 is a disaster in rural areas especialy. When there are GP's localy in most instances who used to come out when required, now an ambulance can be sent on a round trip of 100 miles plus for what may not turn out to be a serious issue, leaving little or no coverage.

The time required on the phone is excessive and puts lives at risk. NHS 24 was a cost cutting excersise which as usual went dramaticaly wrong.
5

Goody2Shoes,

EDINBURGH 17/07/2009 23:39:01
How can you diagnose an illness on the phone when you are unable to see the patient and properly examine them.
Bring back General Practitioners that actually want to practice medicine.
I also agree with Brodric's comments.
6

ASHLEY LIVINGSTON SEAGULL,

20/07/2009 17:09:14
GOODY2SHOES...I TAKE IT YOU ARE A MEDIC?OTHERWISE HOW WOULD/COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW IF YOU CAN DIAGNOSE AN ILLNESS OVER THE PHONE OR NOT....

BRODIC...WHETHER YOU LIKE NHS24 OR NOT REALLY ISN'T RELEVANT NOW IS IT?

UNTIL GP'S STOP CRYING LIKE BABIES OVER LONG WORKING HOURS THERE REALLY IS LITTLE ALTERNATIVE....THEY THINK BECAUSE THEY GET PAID WELL THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THERE WORKING HOURS....GOOD FOR THEM...

NHS24 IS VITAL....END OF.

 

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