NHS 24

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NHS 24 is the name of a confidential health advice and information service provided by NHS Scotland. It is the equivalent to the NHS Direct scheme in England and NHS Direct Wales, allowing people who feel unwell or those caring for them to obtain advice if it is not convenient or possible to wait until they can visit their general practictioner when the practice is next open. It is not intended as a substitute for obtaining an emergency ambulance service via 999.

Using NHS24

The service can be used in more than one way:

Self-Help Guide (Internet)

This enables a diagnosis to be made without assistance by answering a series of questions after accessing the main http://www.nhs24.com web page and selecting the NHS Self-help guide option. Users will be given one of three final results :

  • Self-Care, if it is safe to manage the problem at home
  • Call NHS 24, if it is necessary to speak to a member of NHS 24 staff for further advice
  • Dial 999, if the problem requires the use of an ambulance service

The Internet service also provides access to a NHS Health Encyclopaedia which gives information on illnesses, conditions, tests and treatment and to pharmacy opening times throughout Scotland.

The internet information is used under licence from the UK Department of Health and is based on (thus not necessarily identical to) the content displayed by the English service NHS Direct.

Telephone

08454 24 24 24

This is the current, normal telephone number for most callers who are able to use a telephone without difficulty. A translation service [1] is provided for a number of languages for which leaflets are issued which instruct callers to tell the NHS 24 staff :

"I am [nationality described in English], I do not speak English."

111

NHS 24 will adopt the shorter, free-to-caller 111 number from April 2014.[2] 111 is already in use for similar services in England.

18001 08454 24 24 24

This number is used for callers who have to use a Textphone.

At the end of the consultation, NHS 24 will contact the Scottish Ambulance Service if necessary.

Instructions for use of the service by people who do not speak English are available on the website or in paper form by calling 0141 435 3901.

Organisation

NHS24 is controlled by the NHS 24 Board . The Board is a Special Health Board created in 2001 by the (then) Scottish Executive using powers under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nhs24.com/ContactUs/OtherLanguages/LanguageLine NHS 24 Language Line
  2. ↑ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/01/111-number23012013

External links

NHS Scotland health boards
Regional health boards
Special health boards
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