NHS Direct - Set to close 3 Contact Centres

It has been announced that 3 NHS Contact Centres in Ipswich, Norwich and Chelmsford are set to close next year with the loss of up to 120 jobs.

Nick Chapman, the chief executive of NHS Direct trust, said: "There is much work we need to do to understand the full implications of these closures, before a final plan can be agreed by the trust board."

"Every option will be explored to redeploy those staff affected. We already have over 100 members of our nursing staff currently working from home permanently and there are sites in surrounding areas. No decision has been made to make staff redundant at this time."

Dave Prentis, Unison's general secretary, said: "This is a disaster for patients and staff and we are really worried that this is the thin end of the wedge. Although these cuts hit local areas, the knock-on effect will be felt across the country."

"NHS Direct staff are already pressed to breaking point during peak periods, when the call centres can deal with up to 30,000 calls a day. Less people on the phones will mean patients depending heavily on out of hours duty care and a rise in the numbers queuing at A&E.

30th September 2011