NHS Direct pulls out of two 111 medical helpline contracts

NHS Direct pulls out of two 111 medical helpline contracts The new non-emergency NHS phoneline has been thrown into turmoil after a supplier pulled out of two contracts for providing the service.

NHS Direct has said it will be unable to provide the phoneline in two regions - despite winning the contracts to deliver service.

NHS Direct won 11 of the 46 contracts for the 111 service, but it said it could not provide the service in North Essex and Cornwall because the contract terms were "financially unsustainable". The Guardian

See also:

• 'Major' problems for NHS 111 service BBC News 
• NHS non-emergency 111 telephone service crisis deepens as provider warns it is unsustainable The Independent