BOLTON-based NHS Direct dealt with more than three times the number of calls over Christmas - and health chiefs expect the Millennium period to be even busier.

Bosses at the call centres at Ladybridge Hall and Landmark House in Chorley New Road even drafted in extra desks to cope with demand.

The pioneering service, operating over the festive period for the first time, experienced a huge surge in the number of calls on Christmas Day.

And by 1pm on Boxing Day more than 800 calls had already been received, meaning additional temporary work stations were brought in to try to maintain response times.

Bank Holiday Monday saw more than 1,600 calls - more than three times the average of 500 calls a day.

999 ambulance calls were also high with more than 900 received on Sunday and the out-of-hours GP services also reported an increase in demand.

Bosses expect the level of calls to be lower today, but are now preparing themselves for an extra-busy New Year.

Assistant general manager Kathy Agrebi said the most queries have come from people suffering with flu, fever, colds and vomiting.

She said: "The service has been very well used. We have been giving people advice or pointing them in the right direction."

Staff have the facility to transfer callers to the 999 control room if needed or they can speak to a nurse who can offer advice. General information about surgeries and chemists is also available.

She added: "It has been a great success story. Callers are always unsure about what to do and don't want to waste doctors' time, so they are thrilled to have the benefit of advice from someone with experience."

Extra staff will be drafted in for New Year's Eve and Day, but they expect their busiest day to be January 3.

Ms Agrebi said: "A lot of people will not realise it is a Bank Holiday so we expect to be inundated."

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