NHS 111 advice serviceblamed for A&E waits

By The Newsroom

Published 10th May 2013, 13:30 BST

Part of the Royal Sussex County Hospital complex

MORE staff have been recruited to man the NHS 111 advice line service after reports that patients were turning up at accident and emergency departments because they could not get through.

Tony Reynolds, who chairs the Independent Patients’ Forum for Central Sussex said: “I heard of one patient who tried for two hours to get through for advice and another who waited for 20 minutes.

“It’s unacceptable. If patients can’t get through they take the easy option and go to A&E.”