FURTHER improvements are needed to the NHS 111 service in Somerset after a patients’ survey found the quality of service it provides was “not consistent” across the county.
The NHS 111 service provides advice on non-emergency conditions, with those who call being assessed over the phone by healthcare professionals and then directed to the most appropriate facilities in their location.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the Somerset service (which is provided by Devon Doctors Ltd) in July 2020, and found people were not being triaged or treated quickly enough.
A new report by Healthwatch Somerset has found that some improvements have been made since the inspection, but more work is needed to ensure all residents get the same quality and speed of diagnosis and treatment.