We introduced the new national appointment system for urgent and emergency care at PAHT on Tuesday, 1 December.
The NHS 111 First initiative is a new approach to urgent and emergency care which is being introduced nationwide to help keep urgent NHS services safe and to make sure that they are available for everyone who needs them.
You should always call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or if their life is at risk. NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. Anyone going online to 111.nhs.uk or calling the free NHS 111 number will be given a thorough assessment and then helped to find treatment, which could be their local pharmacy, their GP surgery or an appointment slot if necessary at an Urgent Treatment Centre or emergency department.
NHS 111 can already make booked appointments with GP surgeries and pharmacies, or divert a call to the ambulance service if necessary. Callers can also get directly through to a specialist mental health team by selecting option 2. The addition is that now, NHS 111 will be able to make a booked appointment at an emergency department (ED/A&E) for people too.
We have been working with our system partners across the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System, including other hospitals, clinical commissioning groups, the local NHS 111 provider (HUC) and NHS England and NHS Improvement ahead of the roll out.
Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said: “The introduction of NHS 111 First at PAHT is a significant step in improving the experience of our patients.
“By calling 111 in advance for an appointment for urgent and emergency care, patients can ensure that they will be seen by the most appropriate medical professional for their needs, without waiting unnecessarily at our hospital.
“NHS 111 First supports patients to be seen and treated safely in the right place, first time.”
A video highlighting the new ways of working can be viewed here.