DEVON switched on its new NHS 111 service for the county on Tuesday making it easier for patients to access local health services when they have an urgent need.

This national initiative is being rolled out across the country and in Devon it is being commissioned by Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group including Torbay and is being provided by the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust over five years.

NHS 111 is available 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year and calls from landlines and mobile phones are free. When patients call 111 they will be assessed by trained call handlers who are supported by clinicians. They provide healthcare advice and direct people to the relevant local service that can help them – that could be an out-of-hours doctor, walk-in centre, community nurse, emergency dentist or late opening chemist. If an emergency ambulance is required then this will be arranged automatically.

The new service aims to improve public access to healthcare services and drive improvements in the way the NHS delivers care. NHS 111, say those behind the scheme, can help them to make sure that people get their urgent care needs met in the 'right place at the right time.'

Dr Simon Scott-Hayward, GP clinical lead for Devon's NHS 111 service said: 'NHS 111 can help patients to navigate their way through the myriad of NHS services that are out there. It is easy and free to access and will point patients to the best place to meet their urgent health needs.

'We have been careful in our planning and preparation for the Devon service and during testing the Department of Health praised SWASFT for their recruitment and training processes. They intend to use their approach as a model of best practice across the country. We are confident that our service will be amongst the very best in the country.'

Dr Andy Smith, medical director for SWASFT added: 'We have been running the service in Dorset for nearly six months and will be bringing that experience and expertise to the Devon service.

'We have a local base in Exeter with local staff and all the local knowledge that comes from managing our successful ambulance service in the county too.'

The out of hours GP calls that are currently managed by Devon Doctors will be gradually migrated over to 111 between October 2013 and April next year.

NHS Direct will end its operations in September shortly after 111 goes live and patients ringing NHS Direct will be asked to redial 111 instead.