NHS 111 provides a vital service to help people with urgent care needs to get assessment, clinical advice and treatment quickly, taking around 15 million calls a year. The service will be further enhanced by increasing clinical consultation for patients calling 111, so that more patients get the care and advice they need over the phone and only those who genuinely need to attend A&E or use the ambulance service are advised to do this. All other patients will have their issue resolved over the phone if at all possible or if not will be directed to appropriate primary care or community services, with an emphasis on strongly supporting patients in self-care.

The 15 Clinical Commissioning Groups across Kent, Medway and Sussex are collaborating to procure an NHS 111 and clinical assessment service across the region. The contract is for 5 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years subject, but not limited to, to satisfactory performance.

The service is being procured as ‘Schedule 3 — Social and Other Specific Services’ and Commissioners are bound only by those parts of the Regulations applying to schedule 3 services.