to be concerned at the Govt scrapping NHS direct for a cheaper alternative with fewer nurses?

[Desperatelyseekinginspiration]

Just read this www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11120853

Now I know complain about NHSDirect but I found them extremely helpful when dd was a baby. I won't go into it but we needed to call them a lot as she was quite sickly and the fact that I was speaking to a nurse gave me a lot of confidence in the advice given. Just don't see how it will be the same without as many nurses. Won't it become pointless?

Interested to know how other mumsnetters feel about this.

Unfortunately much OOH is run by private consortia now, profit and being the cheapest provider being the main criteria, so staffing can be variable in quality.

Riven, I agree that pts with complex needs need hospital care as GPs cannot be adequately equipped to provide for them and they need to fast track to the appropriate specialist. Your own GP would no doubt agree.

I can't believe you have to wait so long for an OOH callback! I think the max time I have ever waited is about 45 mins. How can it be so different in NI? Usually we're a bit behind the rest of the UK! Maybe some of the money from scrapping NHS direct could be allocated to providing a better and more efficient OOH service for you?