The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has welcomed the announcement that Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust – working with its partner and sub contractor Local Care Direct (LCD) – has been chosen as the preferred provider to deliver the new NHS 111 service for Yorkshire and the Humber region, incorporating the full urgent care pathway for West Yorkshire.
Local Care Direct will supply the out-of-hours aspects of the 111 service in the West Yorkshire area. It is envisaged that contracts will be signed by the end of July, for a commencement of the service on 12 March 2013.
The Chair of the AACE, Peter Bradley, said: “Anything that brings emergency and urgent care together is a good thing, and we hope that many more ambulance services can follow suit and win contracts to supply more 111 services in other parts of the country. Ambulance services are experts at handling calls from patients who need help quickly, so they are perfectly placed to operate 111 services, whilst at the same time reducing pressure on the 999 service”
Mike Potts, the Senior Responsible Officer for NHS 111 Programme Board for Yorkshire and the Humber and Chief Executive of NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield said:
“I am delighted that after an open competitive process Yorkshire Ambulance Service, in partnership with out-of-hours provider Local Care Direct, has been identified as the preferred provider. Both organisations bring a wealth of local knowledge and experience of running emergency and urgent care services. I look forward to working with them as we plan to launch the new service for the people of Yorkshire and the Humber in March 2013.”
David Whiting, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said:
“We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder for the region-wide NHS 111 and West Yorkshire Urgent Care services in partnership with Local Care Direct. Our partnership of an ambulance service and out-of-hours provider creates a firm and experienced foundation for safe, effective and integrated patient care. We are looking forward to implementing our plans for the services and, working together, we will deliver a high quality and responsive service for patients needing emergency or urgent care in Yorkshire and the Humber.”
You can get the full background to this story on the NHS 111 Bulletin here.
