NHS 24 'sucks up money like a Hoover'
THE Scottish Government was urged to explore alternatives to the NHS 24 phoneline.
Dr John Garner, a GP in Edinburgh, said NHS 24 had been criticised for delays in answering calls and high staff absence.
"It has also sucked up money out of the health service budget like a Dyson Hoover," he said.
"Latest accounts for 2007/8 show its revenue budget was 54 million. And remember, this is just for telephone answering services, not for seeing patients."
Dr Garner told the BMA conference in Liverpool that though parts of the service had improved, some people were being sent to hospital when they did not need to go.
John Turner, NHS 24 chief executive, said: "NHS 24 is a fully integrated part of NHS Scotland."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi: The Lockerbie bomber is dead
- Rangers: Dave King claims ‘first option’ on Craig Whyte’s Ibrox shares
- Paulo Sergio left in limbo as Vladimir Romanov flies out before party
- Scottish Cup final: End of an era for Tynecastle heroes?
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Paulo Sergio left in limbo as Vladimir Romanov flies out before party
- Anti-bigotry law fails to protect England fans
- Scottish Cup final: The talk of the toon are the Hearts in maroon
- Scottish Cup final: Hibernian 1 - 5 Hearts: Hearts pounding has hapless Hibs in hiding
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
