The NHS’s Covid-19 phone line faces a new safety investigation, The Independent reports.
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has launched an inquiry into calls to 111 about Covid-19 symptoms.
NASGP members also raised concerns about the Covid clinical assessment service (CCAS) last year.
- In May 2020, NASGP set up a private Facebook group to support NASGP members and GP locums who work on the service.
- In October, the service stopped using nurses for calls after safety concerns were raised but was reported to be 300 GPs short.
- The previous month, NASGP members worked with GP magazine Pulse to expose dire pay problems for GP locums who worked for CCAS.
- The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch said that its investigation was at an early stage and investigators are not yet certain of any direct link to patient harm.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of the NASGP, said: “As an organisation that is by GPs, for GPs, the NASGP fully understands that there’s going to be some nervousness amongst our members about this investigation. But we fully expect the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch to take a systems-based approach to this investigation.
“Going forward, we hope the lessons learned will improve the way the NHS values its established workforce of fully-qualified GP locums.”