All A&E visits across the country could be booked via 111 after successful trial at QA Hospital in Portsmouth

Patients attending QA Hospital in Cosham were among the first in the country to use the NHS 111 line to book slots for the emergency department (ED) in advance as part of a trial that started in July.

Under the scheme patients are advised whether they need to attend the ED, or their GP, with an allocated time given to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Since it started more than 1,000 patients used 111 to book into A&E at QA.

Speaking at a health overview and scrutiny panel meeting today (Sep 17) Penny Emerit, the deputy chief executive officer of the Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: 'More than 1,100 patients accessed the emergency department with booked appointments by the beginning of September.

'We are continuing to gather patient feedback to make sure we can support improvements in the service.

'We have seen an increase in demand for the emergency department back to the levels before the pandemic and this 111 initiative is key part of out winter plan and preparedness.'

Now government has announced it is likely the system will be rolled out across all hospitals following the pilot - that was also trialled in Cornwall, Blackpool and Warrington.

Ms Emerit added: 'The intention is to roll out the scheme nationally by December to support winter pressures.'

It comes as Portsmouth has seen a slight increase in the number of Covid cases, with more expected over winter.

Helen Atkinson, the city's head of public health, said: 'We are the second lowest region in the country still for cases. But we expect to see that increase as we go into winter.

'As part of winter preparations we are really trying to encourage people to have their flu jabs - for everyone over the age of 50 and those in Year 7 and under at school.'

The pilot at QA is being run in partnership with South Central Ambulance Service (Scas) NHS Foundation Trust.

Patients contact 111 either by phone or online and are then allocated a time to attend the ED. Patients can still turn up to the ED without a slot.

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