NHS Direct

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Melvil

Guest
Any thoughts? Some people I know suggest that it should be replaced by an answerphone message saying "You're probably OK but if you think it's serious, pop down to A & E" whereas others have been totally taken care of by it.

Any experiences?
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
My judgement of them is a negative one based on how they seem to run the company. Had a mate a few years ago who had an interview, was offered the job and then they reneged on the offer.

My old gf had to use NHS direct several times when I was around as out of hours care is non-existent. They usually said "if it's anyworse go to the out of hours drop-in centre" or got a doctor to call back (about an hour later). Not bad but not useful as one could theoretically have been treated/seen to quicker by the drop-in centre route.
 

wafflycat

New Member
Yes.
It's useless (well... possible overstatement)
Used it a couple of times.
Got told to go to A&E.
A&E staff got miffed at injury. Said "Why are you here?"
Replied "Advised to by NHS Direct"
Cue much rolling of eyes by A&E staff.
So my experience is that the advice given out was not appropriate.
 

Cathryn

Legendary Member
In principle i think it's a very good idea - lots of people on hand to reassure paranoids who would otherwise take up valuable doctors' time (myself included). They were good when I thought i was dying of a broken leg a few weeks ago!!
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
I'd second the very good for parents with their first kids as it's scary... but they have to be careful and 'err on the "Go to A&E" because of legal implications -....... sue you sir !!!!

I'm an avid hospital avoider unless in need of proper patching up !
 

derall

Guru
Location
Home Counties
Like most of what comes out of Richmond House it's good in theory, cr@p in practice. We were supposed to try using them for our follow-up service. Didn't work and we're back to face-to-face appointments again
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
Band 8, bloody hell. You could also argue the redeployment of the ordinary call centre staff, although the case is much less compelling.
 

surfgurl

New Member
Location
Somerset
I've had a mixed experience with NHS Direct. I work in a boarding school and we occasionally call them for advice about things or for the out of hours service.
On a Sunday morning they were able to pass on our details for the local on call Doctor to call us who then gave us advice and an appointment.
On another occasion, some years ago, I called them for advice relating to a head injury. They arranged for the Doctor to call us back. In hindsight they should have heard the words head injury and said go straight to A and E.
Another time I rang them as a pupil was showing some symptoms which I thought could be a side effect of the medication they had been prescribed. The patient information leaflet said seek medical advice urgently. I rang them and they had no idea about the medicine and asked me to read the patient information leaflet to them. I had thought they may have had access to this information, but no.
 
Welcome to NHS Direct.

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If you are bleeding from an orifice, press 2.
If the voices are telling you to kill again, press 3.

For all other enquiries, please press 4 to speak to someone reading from a script.

Your call may be monitored for training purposes. On the other hand, we can simply control your thoughts via the "filling" we implanted last year. KILL EDMONDS...NO DEAL...KILL... <signal lost>
 

Dave5N

Über Member
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
 

Maz

Guru
Whenever the kids have been ill or had a trauma injury, I've always found NHS Direct to be reassuring and helpful. They gave sound advice to see us through until morning when the doc could take a look at the symptoms/injuries etc.
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Seconded (or thirded?). We have always found them excellent for resssurance with kids' problems.

It's easy to sit at your computer and criticise but I wonder how many phone calls they take from idiots who have got a runny nose and think they're going to die?
 
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