A BASINGSTOKE councillor has praised NHS Direct staff for giving potentially life-saving advice after her husband suffered a burst appendix.

Ken Frankum, 42, the husband of Popley councillor Jane Frankum, complained of feeling unwell on the evening of April 23, but did not realise the seriousness of his condition.

Ken, from Abbey Road, who works at RAF Odiham, was rushed to Basingstoke hospital after his wife contacted NHS Direct staff.

Jane, who was busy electioneering in Winklebury when she heard about her husband's illness, said: "Ken was very distressed and he normally has a high pain threshold.

"Unfortunately, I could not remember the number for NHS Direct so I rang 192. I only discovered two days later that his appendix had burst."

Jane - who had read about NHS Direct in The Gazette - continued: "I don't know what I would have done if I had not got the number. The last question the NHS Direct staff asked me was what I would have done if this service was not available and I said 'call my GP'.

"I am in a state of shock but so grateful that Ken is being looked after.

"I wonder how many other people have used this excellent service and how many people are not aware of it."

Ken praised the efforts of the staff on duty at the hospital.

NHS Direct, which covers the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, can be contacted for the cost of a local call.

A team of nurses staffs the lines 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the help of clinical guidance software.

The NHS Direct number to ring outside your normal GP surgery time is 0845 4647.