§ Dr. BrandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures will be followed in circumstances where the advice given by the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line, NHS Direct, is contrary to advice given by other 24-hour services funded by his Department. [21364]
§ Mr. BoatengAdvice from the National Health Service Direct 24-hour telephone advice lines will have the same status as any other clinical advice in the NHS. NHS Direct will be staffed by qualified nurses trained in giving telephone advice and who will have access to medical support when needed.
§ Dr. BrandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health where the legal responsibility for advice given over the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line will lie. [21368]
§ Mr. BoatengNational Health Service bodies providing the NHS Direct advice lines will have a duty of care towards callers, as they do towards the users of the other services they provide.
§ Dr. BrandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health from which budget the resources to fund the proposed 24-hour telephone advice line will come. [21369]
§ Mr. BoatengThe three pilot helplines, due to start in March 1998, will be funded centrally. Decisions about the longer term funding of the National Health Service Direct-24 hour telephone advice lines will be made in due course when the pilots have been evaluated.