Well, sorry to piss all over your sceptical bonfire, but whenever I phoned them when the nippers were a bit younger, I found them authoritative, knowledgeable, reassuring, sympathetic and helpful. Oh, and accurate in their advice. Oh Oh, and confidential.
Unlike my GP's snooty 'You can't see the doctor until you have divulged enough information for me to share with my neighbours' reception or our local 'sorry take a seat you haven't been shot' A&E