§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls have been logged since the establishment of the national health freephone information service; and if she will give details of the guidelines issued to staff governing advice given to callers seeking to complain about national health service services.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe national health information service freephone telephone number, 0800 665544, has received 201,128 calls in the period between launch in January 1993 to the end of April 1994. Each health information service has a copy of the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1992 and HSG(92)21, copies of which are available in the Library. These documents, along with information about local procedures, contain the essential information to enable health information service personnel to advise callers how to make a complaint.