RE: Next government27 Feb 2023 10:09
stt1,
People just get a taxi to A&E if they think it is serious as ambulances and NHS 111 can waste precious time before responding.
If the person is too ill to move then a 999 call would be more appropriate.
The NHS ambulance service may employ NHS 111 operatives who handle people who are confused about the seriousness of a situation, and GP's are given good money by the NHS to provide G.P. appointments for visits booked by NHS 111.
Again you say 'for patients who do not have emergency needs'.
People do not always know what constitutes an emergency.
Call-handlers may not be the best option anyway as NHS111 are not medically trained and even when phoning for an ambulance you have to face questions like, 'are they still breathing, are they conscious?
Basically you typically have to make a very strong case to get an ambulance out, via NHS111 or 999, which is why it is still better, IMHO, to get a taxi to A&E straight away.
To see a GP, or more likely one of their practice nurses, with non-emergency stuff, just turn up at the surgery at 8am and present your case.