The new urgent care telephone number NHS 111 may have the potential to bring real benefits to the health care system but is in danger of ‘getting lost in translation’

It suggests that the new clinical commissioners currently feel a lack of engagement with NHS 111, despite being the key people responsible for its implementation by April 2013.

The survey found that current clinical engagement appears to be poor and clinical leaders feel that this is another example of top down policy rather than local innovation. Only 11 per cent of clinical leaders have experienced ‘good engagement; my view was taken into account’, with 32 per cent saying there has been ‘some engagement, but no real ability to affect decision making’ and 55 per cent saying there was little or no engagement. 77 per cent of respondents said that ‘there is little scope for local clinicians to shape this service to meet local needs’.

Rick Stern, urgent care lead, NHS Alliance, said: “We remain supportive of the idea and want to work in partnership with the Department of Health and other national partners to ensure that local commissioners are actively involved in the development of NHS 111. However, our members currently feel disengaged and believe there is little room for local flexibility.

Stern continiued: "We need to take steps to address this now, as otherwise both the 111 programme and the credibility of local clinical commissioning will suffer.  While there is support for NHS 111, in principle, there are substantial concerns about the speed and style of implementation.”

The survey highlights examples where local systems have decided to vary the way 111 is to be implemented locally, as part of a clear view of how to develop integrated 24/7 urgent care. It also demonstrates that clinical leaders are wary of top down implementation.

One survey respondent said: “I have strong reservations about 111. The whole of the NHS reforms are being managerially-led and the clinically-led proclamations seemed to have been purely an aspiration which has now been all but sadly lost.”

In its discussion paper, the NHS Alliance makes a number of recommendation  to address clinical leaders’ concerns and boost the level of local engagement and influence.

Further information
View the discussion paper - http://tinyurl.com/7y2o7nc