NHS 111 Helpline: Questions Raised Over Safety

A senior paediatrician has warned that the NHS 111 helpline may not be "safe and effective" for diagnosing illness in young children.

Professor Neena Modi, who is president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said 111 was brought in at huge cost without any proper evaluation of whether it was a safe service.

She also questioned whether 111 call handlers - who are not medically trained - should be carrying out assessments.

Last month, a report into the death of 12-month-old William Mead criticised GPs, out-of-hours services and a 111 call handler who failed to spot he had sepsis.

The report said William may have lived if the 111 call hander had realised the seriousness of his condition or if a medic had taken the call.

Prof Modi said that recognising serious illness "gets more and more difficult the younger the child".

She said: "It is uncertain - because studies have not been adequately conducted - whether or not the telephone triage service such as NHS 111 is really going to be safe and effective for very small children.

"Even a clinician trying to make an assessment over the telephone would find it much more difficult in a smaller child than in an older child. Then when you add in the lack of clinical expertise, it's going to be even more difficult."

In response, NHS England said: "Of course Dr Modi is entitled to her personal opinions, but the 111 clinical protocols were designed with and by the medical royal colleges, including her own college.

"We're also ensuring when people call 111 they are supported by a wider range of doctors, nurses and other clinical staff, thereby improving around the clock care."