New stats show huge drop in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant patients seeking coronavirus help on NHS 111 line

In the Portsmouth CCG area, between March 18 and May 18, there was a daily average of 193 cases reported to 111.

However, NHS Digital said that the number is likely to have been much higher than actual cases because symptoms of coronavirus overlap with those of other infections, such as colds and flu.

The average in the area fell to 28 a day people reporting symptoms between May 19 and June 9.

In the NHS Fareham and Gosport CCG area, between March 18 and May 18, there was a daily average of 187 cases reported to 111.

That number declined to 33 between May 19 and June 9.

And in the South Eastern Hampshire CCG area, which covers Havant and surrounding area, a daily average of 173 between March 18 and May 18 reduced to 33, between May 19 and June 9, matching the Fareham and Gosport tally.

An NHS spokesman said the 111 online and phone systems have played a key role in the health service’s response to the most significant challenge in its history.

He added: ‘It is to be expected that calls and online checks by members of the public will fall as we pass through the first peak of the virus, but 111 should continue to be the first port of call for urgent health needs.

‘Its trained staff, supported by nurses and GPs, can now book you a slot at your local pharmacist, GP, or Urgent Treatment Centre, so you or your family can get the right care in the safest and most convenient way.'

The above figures are people self-reporting symptoms and are separate to the number of official cases, which is those where a test has been carried out.

The most recent figures for confirmed coronavirus cases by council area – as of Tuesday, June 16 – are Fareham 181; Gosport 125; Havant 244; Portsmouth 324; East Hampshire 278; Winchester 369.

Overall, more calls were made to the NHS 111 service which in all covers Hampshire and parts of Surrey last month, new figures show.

NHS England data shows Hampshire and Surrey Heath 111 helpline received 52,069 calls in May.

This was 218 per cent more than it received in April, but 11 per cent less than in May 2019.

This bucked the national trend as calls to helplines across England dropped slightly to 1.6 million in May, compared to 1.7 million in April, but demand was 12 per cent higher than in the same month last year.

The proportion of calls answered within 60 seconds meanwhile fell from 80 per cent to 77 per cent between April and May.

Health think tank the Nuffield Trust says the data suggests pressure on the NHS is easing across England, despite the volume of calls remaining higher than usual.