North-east worst hit as waiting times for assistance near 25 minutes
Nearly one in four callers to the NHS’s advice line for urgent health needs are giving up while trying to get through, with people kept on hold for nearly 25 minutes in north-east England, the Observer can reveal.
NHS 111 is a free, round-the-clock phone line for people who have an urgent healthcare need that is not a life-threatening situation. The service is meant to connect callers with clinicians and trained advisers who can then recommend further action or refer callers on to local NHS services.
