Published Date:
01 July 2009
THE Scottish Government was urged to explore alternatives to the NHS 24 phoneline.
Dr John Garner, a GP in Edinburgh, said NHS 24 had been criticised for delays in answering calls and high staff absence.
"It has also sucked up money out of the health service budget like a Dyson Hoover," he said.
"Latest accounts for 2007/8 show its revenue budget was £54 million. And remember, this is just for telephone answering services, not for seeing patients."
Dr Garner told the BMA conference in Liverpool that though parts of the service had improved, some people were being sent to hospital when they did not need to go.
John Turner, NHS 24 chief executive, said: "NHS 24 is a fully integrated part of NHS Scotland."
The full article contains 133 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
30 June 2009 8:56 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Health of the NHS
