NHS Direct - Direct & to the point right when you need them! (NHS Direct)

Member Name: katykicker

Product:	NHS Direct
Date:	12/04/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great staff, very prompt at returning calls, very knowledgeable.

Disadvantages: Can wait a fair while in peak times for less urgent enquiries but that's to be expected.

NHS Direct is a service available for free to all members of public in the UK and is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week either online or on the telephone.

I have used the telephone service twice in the past year (once for me, once for my other half) and they are extremely helpful.

The first time I had to ring the service I was suffering from a terrible pain on the left side of my back which was persistent and increasing over time and it turned out I actually had a kidney infection and ended up hospitalised. I called the service and they asked me a number of questions and then said that somebody would call me back within 30 minutes as my call was quite urgent (at least it was to me!) a nurse called me back within about ten minutes and advised me to visit my local walk-in centre as soon as possible which I did and then ultimately I ended up in the hospital.

The second time I called was when my other half had a growth on his side which had turned very red and swollen, I stated that this was not an urgent call but I needed some advise as his doctor's surgery was closed for the weekend and there was no other number to call on the answer phone message provided when I rang them. I got a call back again very promptly, within about 15 minutes, and they advised me to attend A&E to have it lanced. We did and it was lanced and he was promptly sent on his way with a few weeks recovery time and a two week sick note (it was full of pus whatever it was.... Eurgh all because of an ingrown hair apparently!).

Anyway, back to the subject in hand! I have been very helpful with the service provided and the website they have is an absolutely fountain of knowledge on every medical subject imaginable. I have absolutely no complaints with the service provided. The return call was very prompt and they were very knowledgeable. The questions asked on my first call in were relevant to me and they did not waste time on stupid "equality" questions such as my ethnicity and religion choices like they seem to do everywhere these days! I was in pain and wanted a prompt response and that is exactly what I got.

I am rating the service 5/5 as the people I spoke to on both occasions were absolutely fantastic and very prompt. I would not hesitate to contact them again in a similar situation or if I couldn't get an appointment with the doctor. I would rather call NHS Direct than go down to our local Walk In Centre about 2 miles away only to be told that there had been no need to attend. Cases are called back in order of priority so if it is not something urgent or major you may wait up to an hour but I would recommend it anyway as the service and the information provided to you should be fantastic (based on my experiences anyway).

Summary: I would recommend this highly efficient, prompt service.