Teenagers answering 111 calls

[hiddenhome2]

Daily Mail link

Well they're not really are they? They're only answering the calls to tell people where the nearest chemist is. A 12 yo could manage that if told the answer. An 18yo is an adult even if they're a teenager. Even the dm concedes there's been no problem with their work. So why write a sensationalist story?

So, if somebody phones up with a potentially serious illness which gets missed?

I clicked on that link thinking that it would be about 19 year olds doing minimum wage jobs in a call centre - not that I think this is a particularly good way of running a medical helpline, but it wouldn't have surprised me in the least.

But they're actually employing minors ... jesus

By the way, let's not delude ourselves about why they employ children:

www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

employ children

Am I alone in seeing that phrase and having a brief horror show in my head of chimney sweeps ?

How long before all the progress from Lord Shaftesburys' age and the 21st century is washed away ?

The problem isn't their age, they are old enough to be working but the fact that they are not given adequate training. That would be an issue if they were 17, 37 or 57.

There's nothing wrong with minors doing age appropriate jobs, like Saturday shop work.

But putting a child in a position where she mistakenly put a potential stroke victim on hold (as appears to have happened) is not far short of criminal, if it's true.

All for the sake of a couple of quid an hour.

I don't think it's appropriate for people of this age to be dealing with sick, frightened and stressed members of the public.

The problem isn't their age

Except how does the concept of liability come into this ? Can we hold a minor to the same standard as an adult ?

I think there are probably safeguards there and this is pointless DM scaremongering.

111 runs many info lines. We had nurse practitioners walking the floor when I was there. It was a very tightly controlled process. Many 18 year olds were taking calls - working nightshifts before a day at university I the morning.

But when I worked for 111 we had eight weeks intensive training.

If it's anything like other call centres, they'll have a script/set questions they have to ask which lead them onto the next set of questions. I'm under no illusions that if I have to phone NHS 24 I'm speaking to a fully trained professional. I'm (initially) talking to a call - handler who runs through generic questions. The computer tells them whether I'm a priority, then I wait for 3 hours to be called back by an actual medically trained person.

How is an 18 year old a minor? I thought after 16 you were considered an adult?
I on't see it being a problem, but at any age they need to be fully trained whatever the job is.

The age of the people have changed since I read the story this morning (before I saw this thread). It said 18yos following their a levels this morning but now it says 17yos following their gcses.

I thought you took GCSEs at 15/16

I think GCSE's are any time from y9 - y11.
I suppose the oldest could be !7 in year 11? or would they be 16?

The Daily Mail is running a campaign of articles against 111 at the moment, this is just part of it.

I wonder what they are hoping the outcome would be?

Well our service triaged 5M calls every weekend. Perhaps the DM could suggest an alternative

The Daily Mail like nothing more than a good old NHS slag off fest. It's NHS 111's turn so jezza cunt can talk about privatising that with his mates.

Ubik1

The vast majority of children sit GCSEs at the end of Y11. Most will be 16. Some may still be 16. The exams are in May/June and the children will all be 16y by the end of Y11 (by August 31st.)

You can do GCSEs early but this will become less common with the new GCSEs that have been launched and it isn't generally a good thing anyway.

111 has already been privatised. It has been run for a number of years by a private company called Care UK. It operates behind the logo of the NHS.

None of the reporting i've seen about it recently highlights that it is a private company, meaning that the NHS as an organisation cops the blame for any difficulties. Which must be handy for the company, but not so much for the NHS

NHS 111 is privatised. Everyone in the NHS pointed out it would be a crap idea but it was forced through anyway, presumably because it was going to make someone lots of money.

But in the reporting they never mention it's a private company.

Not in scotland

"I don't think it's appropriate for people of this age to be dealing with sick, frightened and stressed members of the public"

My DD worked for Boots as a healtcare assistant from 16 - she took her NVQ2 while working and dealt with sick, frightened and stressed members of the public every day. ANd gave them medical advice. Its not rocket science.

I would love to see stats on how many people are told to take plenty of fluids, a couple of paracetamol and see their pharmacist in the morning if they dont feel better, because I suspect the majority of people calling 111 are the worried well who just need a bit or reassurance.

18 year olds work in care homes.

How is this different.

They are cheap!