HC Deb 02 February 1996 vol 270 c971W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are(a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of

Description Run by Number of calls Cost £
Blood Donor Line Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health 78,516 (April-December 1995) 33,074
Drinkline Drinkline (non-profit making limited company) 44,000 (October 1993–January 1996) 516,000 (DH funding for 1993–94—1995–96)
Health Information Service NHS—regionally provided service 920,136 (April 1992–December 1995) 7,772,745 (April 1992–March 1996 Includes all costs associated with establishing the service and in initially publicising its availability)
Health Literature Line (including the Organ Donor Line) Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health 255,885 (April-December 1995) 108,026
National AIDS Helpline and National Drugs Helpline Network Scotland Ltd. (independent company contracted by the Department of Health) 386,953 (April-December 1995) 1,569,000 (estimated total 1995–96 cost)
National AIDS Helpline Broadcasting Support Services and Network Scotland (contracted by the Department of Health) 4,200,514 (January 1990–December 1994) 6,038,000
Sexwise Helpline Managed by the Central Office of Information for the Department of Health 784,016 (April-December 1995) 366,854
Committee Safety Medicines Freephone Medicines Control Agency 1,977 (January 1994–December 1995) 7,510 (calls costs only)

Details of other helpline services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Details of the Helpline Numbers are listed as follow:
  • Blood Donor Line: 0345 711 711
  • Drinkline: 0345 32 02 02
  • Health Information Service: 0800 66 55 44
  • Health Literature Line: 0800 555 777
  • National Drugs Helpline: 0800 77 66 00
  • National AIDS Helpline: 0800 567 123
  • Sexwise: 0800 28 29 30
Committee Safety Medicines: Dial the operator and ask for Freephone CSM
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