BOLTON people are being passed from ‘pillar to post’ by an NHS helpline, according to critics.

Jack Firth, chairman of Healthwatch Bolton, raised concerns about the NHS 111 telephone line at the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

He said confused residents have been calling the helpline for patient transport, emergency dentists and district nurses, before being re-directed to centres around the country.

“People are being sent from pillar to post” he told the committee.

“We have concerns about whoever is running this service and how they do it.

“They need to make it clear for everyone who is using it.”

Su Long, chief officer at the Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, asked Mr Firth to pass her more details of problems that he had collated from his work at Healthwatch.

The service was deemed a ‘failure’ when it first launched a year ago, she added, and a new provider is currently being sought.

Ms Long told the committee: “The 111 service was commissioned from NHS Direct, it was deemed not to be being delivered so the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has taken over it in the interim while a much better service is found.

“For that reason the CCG hasn’t been encouraging people to use the line, people should be using the CCG’s directory of services instead.

“I am very happy to link you in with the people who do the work.

“The service is being fully commissioned following the failure of NHS England.”