The drive to refer more NHS 111 callers to community nursing teams

Cutting emergency department admission rates has been a health service priority. The NHS 111 free telephone-based service was created for people who require urgent care or advice for conditions that are not life threatening. Callers may be given advice on self-management or directed to a GP, walk-in centre or pharmacist. However, some policy experts argue that opportunities to divert large numbers of patients who call community nursing teams are being missed. Two senior nurses in London community services with higher referral rates explain how they achieve these by using integrated pathways.