§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop joint triage protocols between NHS Direct and GP out-of-hours co-operatives. [54268]
§ Mr. LammyNHS Direct uses an extensive database of triage protocols designed to cover the wide range of presenting conditions of callers. They are designed to assess the acuity of patient condition and may result in referral to a range of providers including care at home, pharmacist, general practitioner (in or out of hours) and accident and emergency.
NHS Direct has full clinical control over their protocols and involves a wide range of health care professionals including many with experience of out of hours primary care, in their development.