Shoudl i really bother ringing nhs direct? (NHS Direct)

Member Name: sausages04

Product:	NHS Direct
Date:	14/09/09 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Professional advice from registered nurses

Disadvantages: sometimes the call back time is excessive

Its a call centre based help line manned by call handlers and nurses, you're ill, you ring them, give them some personal detail and details of illness and depending on how ill you are, you wait for a call back or are put straight through to a nurse - its that simple.

The person initially answering the phone will take your address details, the details for where you currently are, not where you live. They will then take the name of the patient, DOB etc, then they'll try and rule out something serious and life threatening such as heart attack, meningitis/stokes. Now depending on how ill you actually are, you will either be passed to a nurse or a nurse will ring you back. The call back may be 1 hour, 2 hours and on occasions when they are very busy (and I mean very busy) you can expect to wait several hours.

The nurse rings you back, asks some more questions then starts to assess you based on your symptoms, they will ask some questions that are not even relevant, but what they are trying to do is rule out something serious. The nurse will then tell you what to do, if you can manage the symptoms at home and how, or if you need to go to A & E or the doctors. Sometimes, if you need the doctor, they will pass your info onto the GP service so you don't have to go through it again - bonus.

Now - let me try and clear up some of the "ignorant" comments made by many people I know and others on this site.

NHS Direct isn't an emergency service, if you're an emergency use the appropriate service, don't be a moron and complain when you're initially assessed and told you have to wait.

They ask you you're address and location details so that they can get you emergency response teams (999) if you suddenly need them. It's for your own safety and well being people, do you or the person you have gone to A & E with moan when they ask you for it? No - you just shut up and give it to them.

The people on the end of phone are not mind readers, they can't see you and don't know how old you (some conditions affect different age groups differently and age can be a factor in many other ways.)

I know many people that get frustrated having to answer what they call silly questions, and some people who have written reviews here say the same thing, but you gotta remember that this isn't an emergency service, its not A&E or your emergency doctors, its meant for non life threatening minor problems, its meant to take pressure off A&E departments and doctors.

I reckon we all need to give the nhs a break, I admit its not perfect but they are only trying to help us. They work stupid shifts, don't get paid much (talking about nhs direct staff here) and have to put up with lots and lots of abuse.

How do I know all this? I have family and friends that work for nhs direct, I have also had to use them several times. Whilst I agree that sometimes it's a long time to wait for a call back, ive had to wait 9 hours once, you gotta remember that if you're ok to wait after an initial screening, then you can't be seriously ill. If you were, would you even agree to wait several hors in the first place?

Summary: If youre not seriously ill then ring nhs direct - dont waste the dr's time or A&E