News story

Rolling out the NHS 111 service

NHS Deputy Chief Executive, David Flory, and National Director for Improvement and Efficiency, Jim Easton's letter to strategic health authorities.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Following the launch of the first pilots of the NHS 111 service, NHS Deputy Chief Executive, David Flory, and National Director for Improvement and Efficiency, Jim Easton, have written to strategic health authorities to request confirmation of plans for full roll-out of the NHS 111 service in each region by April 2013.

NHS 111 is already live in four pilot areas - County Durham and Darlington, Nottingham City, Lincolnshire and Luton. These pilots launched in 2010 and are being independently evaluated by the University of Sheffield over the course of a year of live operation.

A further ten pilot sites are launching this year, expanding the range of operational models and call handling providers used to deliver the service. In addition another five areas are due to launch full procurements this year.

If an area is not able to confirm a go-live date for either piloting or procurement they will be automatically opted-in to a service provided by NHS Direct, in partnership with local ambulance trusts and out of hours organisations, until such a time that they are able to make alternative arrangements.

Published 4 August 2011