Use NHS 111 online service to protect busy A&Es, says health chief

Prof Stephen Powis calls on patients with ‘urgent but not life-threatening’ problems to take pressure off services

People are being urged to go online if they need care for something urgent but not life-threatening, instead of rushing to busy A&E departments, as the health service faces a “winter like no other”.

NHS England’s national medical director, Prof Stephen Powis, said the coming months are likely to be “extremely tough” due to pressures from a combination of Covid-19 and seasonal flu.

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Coronavirus | The Guardian

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