Ambulance trust expands NHS 111 footprint in ‘good deal for patients’

It will now provide services in North Central London alongside social enterprise London Central and West Unscheduled Care Collaborative after the two organisations put in a joint bid for the enhanced NHS 111 integrated urgent care services – the only bid received by the integrated care board, despite 14 organisations expressing initial interest.

The NCL contract will go live in November and will cover NHS 111 services and GP out-of-hours services across five boroughs – Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Islington and Haringey – at a cost of £19m a year. LCW UCC previously held the contract by itself.

LAS already has contracts in the four other integrated care systems across the Capital – North East, North West, South East and South West – although the one in South West London only sees it providing a small amount of cover and works with the Practice Plus Group as part of an integrated urgent care contract.

LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles said the trust had proved it could work alongside social enterprises and private providers to bid for NHS 111 contracts.

“This latest development means we are now the lead or sole provider of 111 in four of the five areas of London with a small role in South West London, so we’re extending our footprint to cover all of London for this service,” he said.

“It really is a great example of LAS working in partnership with other providers to create a compelling offer for our commissioners and a good deal for patients.”

Mr Elkeles added that transferring patients between 999 and 111 services was easier when the trust provided both services and predicts 40,000 fewer ambulances a year have been despatched because patients have been reassessed through the 999 system and sent elsewhere for treatment. 

Also, the contract was likely to see the number of clinicians – not just GPs, nurses, and paramedics but also therapists, mental health nurses and midwives – who help assess patients expanded.