ALMOST 50 per cent of all 999 calls to the local ambulance service are for people who do not need accident and emergency treatment.

Now that information could lead to a system being introduced which would enable people to be treated by specialist teams in the community, as opposed to being taken to hospital casualty departments.

It means a 999 caller would be diverted to NHS Direct if it was defined as a non-emergency. Advice would then be given on how to deal with the problem.

The plans, being discussed nationwide, were welcomed by members of Greater Manchester Ambulance Service NHS Trust last week, but they insisted more money would be needed to operate the scheme.

GMAS said it was following many of the guidelines suggested by the Goverment's emergency care chief, Sir George Alberti, who has drawn up the new "calls answering" plan.

This includes setting up a joint call centre between GMAS and NHS Direct so that patients could be referred to the appropriate community care, such as a GP, mental health team, social services, or drug and alcohol advisors, when dialling 999.

GMAS medical director, Professor Kevin Mackway-Jones, said: "This is not a cheap option and will be a lot more expensive. It costs about £20 to £30 to treat someone in an accident or emergency department. This goes up to £50 to £70 to have someone treated by a mental health team, but it would mean other people are treated quicker."

Board chairman Alan Stephenson added: "This would mean those who very badly need treatment will get it as quickly as possible and those who don't will not clog up the system."