Harold Health bosses say NHS Direct, the new 24 hour nurse-led telephone advice line is going from "strength to strength".

The Barking and Havering Health Authority (BHHA) is basing its comments on statistics published last week.

They said it revealed the pilot service has saved GPs' time and satisfied 97 per cent of callers during its first two months of operation.

It is also optimistic that familiarity will quadruple calls to the line accessible to everyone in Havering. Currently an average of only 20 people per day make calls.

Unnecessary visits to primary care providers - GPs, pharmacists and dentists - have been reduced as callers are referred by specifically trained nurses to the most appropriate NHS services or a programme of self care.

Nurses prioritise the level of care with the aid of flow diagrams and set procedures.

The majority of callers (56 per cent) spoken to did not even need to see a GP, merely requiring a programme of self care.

And emergency advice was rarely necessary, with only 0.3 per cent required to see their GP within two hours and just 10 per cent referred to accident and emergency.

Ninety-seven per cent of callers surveyed said they were satisfied with the service.

Adrian Thrower, NHS Direct project manager, said: "The number of calls NHS Direct has received clearly indicate that there is a demand.

"Many people access the NHS on an inappropriate basis but many of these are now quickly being diverted to self help, which is the main thrust of the service.

"It is not making a difference to A&E because patients tend to go straight there because they know something is wrong with them.

"We hope eventually that one in five will ring NHS Direct each year as opposed to only one in 20 as at present.

"It is a constantly evolving service and we next hope to align it more closely to the needs of GPs and other primary care practitioners."

The 24 hour service is charged at local rates on 0845 4647.

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