NHS Direct has had little impact on demand for immediate health care

NHS Direct, the nurse led telephone helpline, raised hopes that it might reduce demand for NHS immediate care services, and fears that it could lead to additional workload for the NHS. Munro et al (p 150) examined the activity of ambulance services, accident and emergency departments, and out of hours general practitioner cooperatives in the year before and after the first wave of introduction of NHS Direct. There was no change in demand for emergency ambulances or accident and emergency services, but the introduction of NHS Direct was associated with a halting of the upward trend in demand for general practitioner cooperatives. However, future effects on services are likely to alter as the use of NHS Direct increases.

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Relevant Article

Impact of NHS Direct on demand for immediate care: observational study

James Munro, Jon Nicholl, Alicia O'Cathain, and Emma Knowles
BMJ 2000 321: 150-153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]