THE existing contract for the NHS 111 service in Hampshire is due to expire soon, and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) which fund healthcare locally are about to start a process to award a new, five-year contract.

Before that process begins, it is important to get the views of local people and clinical staff, about the way they think the service should work in future.

With new technology allowing wider, secure sharing of patient information, the NHS 111 service could be expanded to do far more than is the case now which is to provide on-demand advice and support around the clock for people who have a health concern, but who don’t need to call 999 or go to A&E.

Portsmouth GP Dr Jim Hogan, who heads commissioning for urgent care in south east Hampshire, said: “Nationally the NHS 111 service has often attracted negative headlines but the local service is generally well-rated by the people who use it.

“In the years ahead the NHS 111 service is likely to become a far more high profile and important part of the local health service. The role of the service may change radically, and so it is important that we get a sense of what people think.

“For example, would people be happy to book an urgent GP appointment using the 111 service, and if not, why not? Similarly, if people had the option to contact a pharmacy expert using the phone service, would that be welcome, or not?

“Looking further ahead, we could even consider more radical options – perhaps a complete overhaul of the system so that dialling 111 was the single call you need to make to access all local NHS care, except the emergency services.

“We are keen to develop the 111 phone line so that it offers people a bigger, better service which gives them the health care and advice they need. To help us get this right we would like to hear what people would want from the service, and what their concerns are, so we can consider those issues when we are setting up the contract.”

As well as asking the public for views on how the 111 service could develop, local GPs and other people working within the NHS are also being asked to suggest how the service could be improved, to ensure the views of clinical staff are heard as well.

To tell the NHS your views about how the service in East Hampshire should be developed, go to www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NHS111service.

The contract re-procurement process is being jointly run by Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, and South Eastern Hampshire CCGs.