Northern Ireland's Health Minister has instructed health trusts to halt planned cuts to the 'Phone First' service. This decision comes after the triage line was already scrapped in Belfast and was slated for closure in the Northern Trust later this month.
The 'Phone First' service acts as a triage line, aiming to direct patients to the most appropriate care pathway. Its discontinuation in Belfast and the impending closure in the Northern Trust had raised concerns about access to timely healthcare services.
The minister's intervention seeks to ensure the continued operation of the 'Phone First' service across trusts while a broader review is undertaken.