New free number for 24 hour health service launched in Scotland

A new free and easy to remember number for National Health Service (NHS) 24 hours a day was launched in Scotland on Tuesday. People looking for medical help and advice can contact NHS 24 by calling 111 after the launch, and the calling NHS 24 from a landline or mobile will no longer be charged in Scotland, the Scottish government said. NHS 24 will continue to deliver the same high quality service for anyone seeking advice and support during the out of hours period until their General Physician (GP) surgery reopens. It previously cost the price of a local phone call from a British Telecom landline, with calls from other landline service providers and mobile providers often costing more. Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil, who launched the new number, said, "The new number is easy to remember, and free to call, which will ensure everyone across Scotland can access support and advice from NHS 24 whenever they need it." "By introducing the 111 number we are removing any barrier for the public to access the health advice out of hours." he noted, adding that "In Scotland, the 111 number will be run by NHS 24 as a public service, in public hands -- serving the needs of patients." Mother-of-two Lee Armstrong, from Edinburgh, supports the change to the new number, noting that "I think the move to the free telephone number will make it even easier for parents like me to contact the service in what is a positive development." NHS 24 has been serving the people of Scotland for more than 10 years and the move to a free phone number represents the next stage in the development of Scotland's provider of telehealth and telecare services, said NHS 24 Chief Executive John Turner. NHS 24 will continue to be contactable via the old number (08454 24 24 24) for a limited time while callers get used to calling the new number. NHS 24 provides a range of telehealth and telecare services to Scotland, answering 1.5 million calls per year on average within four seconds after each call, and 8,000 calls per day during periods of peak demand such as the festive period, official statistics showed.