HAMPSHIRE’S NHS 111 service has reached its six month anniversary and has been given a good bill of health – despite controversies plaguing the hotline across the UK.

Over the past six months the non-emergency number has received more than 216,000 calls, which averages around 8,000 calls a week.

The call waiting times have steadily improved since its introduction in April, with almost 96 per cent of calls now being answered within 60 seconds.

While South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), which provides NHS111, has consistently met the target for transferring fewer than ten per cent of calls to 999.

Just 5.22 per cent of calls were transferred to the emergency number over the past six months.

Dr Jim Hogan, chief clinical officer at NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions the service in Hampshire, said: “Our NHS 111 service is serving the local population well, and is steadily improving in most key areas.

“Many of the criticisms levelled at 111 elsewhere in England are not serious issues here.

“We do acknowledge that there is room for improvement in some areas.

“We’ll continue to monitor performance to ensure that the thousands of people who ring the service every month receive the best possible service – and I’m confident that this has been the case for the vast majority of calls to date.”

Mark Rowell, Head of 111 for SCAS, added: “We are very proud to say that over the last six months the service has improved and we are confident that we are providing a robust service to patients who phone 111.”