HC Deb 05 February 2002 vol 379 cc923-4W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time taken to answer NHS Direct's telephones(a) at weekends, (b) between 6 pm and 11 pm, (c) between 11 pm and 6 am and (d) during daytime office hours in the last 12 months. [24700]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 8 January 2002]: It is not currently possible to provide the information on average time taken to answer NHS Direct calls as requested. However, the average time it takes for NHS Direct to answer the telephone is approximately 30 seconds after the confidentiality message finishes.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls NHS Direct received in each of the last six months. [24699]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 8 January 2002]: The information on the number of calls to NHS Direct for each of the last six months is shown in the table.

Month/year Total calls
2001
June 401,000
July 409,000
August 398,000
September 369,000
October 427,000
November 416,000
December 511,000

Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) by main diagnosis NHS hospitals, England 1995–96 to 2000–01
S00–S09 Injuries to the head 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
S00 Superficial injury of head 9,731 10,829 11,000 10,875 12,293 11,379
S0l Open wound of head 20,180 23,186 23,824 23,668 27,184 25,883
S02 Fracture of skull and facial bones 29,839 31,419 30,265 27,837 30,825 28,318
S03 Dislocation sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head 317 381 367 410 349 314
S04 Injury of cranial nerves 78 63 94 96 106 68
S05 Injury of eye and orbit 3,655 3,503 3,320 3,255 3,591 3,230
S06 Intracranial injury 23,226 20,036 16,529 11,942 12,790 11,892
S07 Crushing injury of head 30 16 11 19 16 5
S08 Traumatic amputation of part of head 127 116 102 111 123 123
S09 Other and unspecified injuries of head 40,912 42,193 41,102 40,163 43,271 39,175
Total 128,096 131,742 126,615 118,376 130,548 120,387

Note:

A Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year. Data for 1995–96 to 1997–98 are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data. 1998–99 to 2000–01 data are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

Month/year Total calls

Source:

NHS Direct sites