Liberal Democrat leader calls for 111 recruitment drive in Surrey visit
Ed Davey visited a shop in Woking on Tuesday morning.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called for an emergency recruitment drive of NHS 111 call handlers.
Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats found that around 3.7 million calls were dropped last year.
"The 111 system, alongside the 999 system, it’s vital that it’s there for people when they need it.”
It was also revealed that Surrey was part of the region with the worst NHS 111 delays in the country. One in two callers ended up giving up in December.
The analysis also said that almost one in five callers gave up before speaking to anyone, and that there was a waiting time of around 25 minutes before the average call was answered.
On Thursday 11th April, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey visited the Bare & Fair Zero Waste and Refill Shop in Woking. He said that “There’s been huge delays on people getting through. Many calls have actually been ended because people have been waiting so long. People need to be able to get through to the NHS, whether it’s 111 or 999.
"I’m afraid that the government have run down these services so it’s difficult for people to get the advice that they need. We need an emergency plan to recruit more call handlers, so people can access the NHS when they need to.”
He also said that “We need more call handlers. It’s just wrong that people who are trying to get advice for the health of themselves, their kids, their family, have to wait so long. The 111 system, alongside the 999 system, it’s vital that it’s there for people when they need it.”
"£14.1 billion made available for health and social care over the next two years on top of record funding."
A spokesperson for The Department Of Health and Social Care said: "This analysis is based on statistics from last year – since then we have published our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan to help the NHS deliver for patients which includes increasing the number of NHS 111 call handlers to 4,800.
“Our plan will deliver one of the fastest and longest sustained improvements in emergency waiting times in the NHS's history, with £14.1 billion made available for health and social care over the next two years on top of record funding."
Speaking about the Junior Doctor Strikes this week, Davey said: "Liberal Democrats believe that parliament should be recalled. We’re in a real national emergency with the junior doctor’s strike. The conservatives have failed to get round the table with the BMA to try to thrash out an agreement. It took them months to do that with the nurses, eventually when they got round the table a solution was found.
"That’s why Liberal Democrats are saying today, please get round the table for the sake of the whole country, the sake of our NHS. Why are the conservatives failing to do the obvious thing?”
On the 11th April, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days. Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.
“I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35% pay rise is unreasonable – it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over £20,000. If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.
“People should attend appointments unless told otherwise by the NHS, continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency and use NHS 111 online services for non-urgent health needs.”