Live updates
- ITV Report
NHS 111 in South West still requires improvement
NHS 111, the non-emergency phone line in Dorset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly still requires improvement according to a health watchdog.
Read the full story ›- ITV Report
'Inadequate' 111 line puts patients 'at risk of harm'
The NHS 111 service in the south-west is putting patients "at risk of harm", according to a damning report from the Care Quality Commission.
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- ITV Report
"We need a public health campaign into sepsis"
The mother of a Cornwall baby boy who died of sepsis after failings by an NHS helpline calls for a public health campaign into the illness.
Read the full story ›Government apology after NHS helpline missed chance to save one-year-old boy
The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised to the family of one-year-old William Mead from Cornwall who died of sepsis after an NHS non-emergency helpline failed to recognise the severity of his illness.
Mr. Hunt said the case showed the issues raised in the case had significant implications for the whole of the NHS.
The Health Secretary also said the NHS England report showed there were several areas where the NHS where the NHS missed opportunities to treat William Mead including:
- Primary care and GP appointments made by William's family
- Out-of-hours calls with their GP
- The NHS 111 Service
The report said if better action had taken place at these stages the one-year-old would probably have survived.
- ITV Report
Sepsis: What is it and how do I spot the signs?
Unsure as to what Sepsis is, or the signs and symptoms of it? We've got a fact file to ensure you know what to look for.
Read the full story ›- ITV Report
NHS helpline 'missed chance' to save year-old boy
The NHS non-emergency helpline cannot identify when children and babies have potentially deadly illnesses, according to a report.
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- ITV Report
Mum says her dying son was let down by NHS 111
A mum whose baby son died from a type of blood poisoning called Sepsis, says the NHS 111 phone line needs a drastic overhaul.
Read the full story ›Cornish MP queries value of 111 NHS helpline after one caller was asked "Are you conscious?"
A Cornish MP has queried the value of the 111 NHS helpline after one of his constituents was asked "Are you conscious?"
Andrew George, who is the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said the system faced "meltdown" over the Christmas period and was based 200 miles away in Newport, South Wales.
Minister Norman Lamb said it was important to keep the system under review.
Statement from new NHS 111 organisation
NHS111 can help patients to navigate their way through the myriad of NHS services that are out there. It is easy and free to access and will point patients to the best place to meet their urgent health needs. We have been careful in our planning and preparation for the Devon service and during our testing the Department of Health praised SWASFT for their recruitment and training processes. We are confident that our service will be amongst the very best in the country.”
NHS 111 number to be switched on in Devon
The NHS telephone helpline 111 will be switched on in Devon today.
The county has decided to go ahead with the phone line, despite problems with it in neighbouring counties.
The helpline aims to give people advice about health concerns which are not emergencies, but has twice faced delays in Devon - it was first due to be launched in April and then June.
The service will be run by the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust for the next five years.