Text 61121 for Local Health Services in England

With mobile phone usage at an all-time high, NHS Direct has launched a text messaging service which allows users to obtain details of local health services at the push of a button!

Anyone wishing to find their nearest GP, dentist, pharmacy, optician, walk-in centre, A&E or hospital in England can text the name of the service required, followed by a postcode, to 61121. A text message is sent back in reply, with details of the closest services to that postcode, and further results can be obtained if needed. Results contain the service name, address and telephone number (where available) plus the distance from the postcode.

Commenting on the new service, Ronnette Lucraft, Commercial Director, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for NHS Direct as it enables people to access health information on the go. To start with, we’re launching the service as a pilot through our Freeview digital TV service, available on channel 108, to test the technology and gauge usage before promoting it to a wider audience.

“There are now more active mobile phone connections than UK residents and 84% of UK adults use a mobile phone regularly*, so the service has a huge potential audience. Significantly, mobile phones are now used by all sections of society, and there is evidence that mobile phone usage is higher amongst hard to reach social groups.”

Further developments to the SMS text messaging service will be added soon, including health alerts, a feedback option and the opportunity to get involved with helping us to improve the quality of our service.

Users are charged their standard rate for texts sent to us (however, network charges may vary), and NHS Direct covers the cost of the replies.

Example: To find a local GP: text the word GP and your full postcode to 61121 – e.g. GP SG4 9SY. If callers would like an extra three results, reply ‘more’ to the first message. The seven key words to access the seven local health services are: GP; dentist; pharmacy; optician; walk; casualty; hospital.

NHS Direct is applying to become an NHS Foundation Trust. 

To find out more, tell us your views and get involved by becoming a member, visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/foundationtrust

Source: The Communications report 2007 - OFCOM

NHS Direct handles over 22,000 calls a day.  That’s over 8 million calls a year.

The NHS Direct Online website (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) receives around 21 million visits a year.

NHS Direct Interactive is available to around 17.2 million households with either Sky Digital TV or Freeview, 68% of all TV homes.

NHS Direct employs over 3,000 staff, over 1,200 of who are trained nurses.

NHS Direct receives approximately £150 million funding annually from the Department of Health to run the 0845 4647 telephone service, the website and digital TV services.