Tory ‘neglect’ blamed for 3.6m abandoned calls to NHS 111 in England

Callers wait so long that nearly one in five hang up, finds Liberal Democrat commissioned analysis

Patients contacting NHS 111 in England are having to wait so long for medical help that they are abandoning millions of calls, with 3.6m ditched in the past 12 months, official figures reveal.

The national helpline service is supposed to make it quicker and easier for patients to get the right advice or treatment they need, either for their physical or mental health. It is billed as being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.