Extra Scots select digital assist from NHS inform for his or her well being

NHS 24 helped extra individuals than ever over the 4-day Easter weekend, as Scots more and more select to seek out digital options to their well being points.

NHS 24’s on-line service, NHS inform, noticed a major enhance in use over this time, with a leap in guests to the location of practically 44% (43.9%) in comparison with Easter 2022.

The service additionally registered a 46% enhance in customers accessing NHS 24’s on-line symptom checkers and care guides. Utilization was additionally up 4% in contrast with the earlier weekend.

NHS 24’s director of service supply, Pauline Howie, stated the rise in utilization figures is nice information not just for NHS 24 however for the entire NHS and other people throughout Scotland:

“Everyone knows that the Financial institution Holidays will be particularly difficult for our NHS. We plan our 111 service to satisfy the elevated demand, however we additionally ask the general public to assist us in two methods – planning forward and checking NHS inform as their first port of name,” she stated.

“Planning forward is essential as a result of it means individuals can take care of any minor well being points at house with out the necessity to name us – a number of our calls are about medicines, so we remind individuals to verify their repeat drugs, be certain they’ve sufficient and to have house cures, simply in case.”

NHS inform and the NHS 24 On-line cellphone app are designed to be handy and assist customers keep away from the necessity to contact a healthcare skilled; most points will be handled rapidly and simply utilizing the self-help guides. NHS inform additionally has a service listing to assist individuals discover a service close by.

For instance, if somebody has a difficulty with their medicine this may be sorted utilizing the self-help information and, if wanted, a fast go to to the native pharmacy.

“That is excellent news for the 111 service which has simply answered greater than 31,000 calls over the Easter weekend,” Howie added.

“That’s 2000 greater than final yr and callers waited a median of simply 10 minutes to get by means of to the service throughout the 4 days.”