INDEPENDENT research this week revealed that a helpline piloted in Preston has been a resounding success.

The survey, conducted by Sheffield University, showed that 97 per cent of callers to the NHS Direct nurse-led 24-hour helpline were 'satisfied', or 'very satisfied', with the service they received.

It was launched in Preston and Chorley a year ago. By the end of 2000, it will be made available to all parts of the country.

The next stage will involve an extension of the Preston/Chorley service to cover Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Blackpool, and the Fylde coast.

Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health, said: "These are very encouraging results and an enormous credit to the nurses and other staff who have worked to make the piloting of NHS Direct such a huge success.

"People who have used the service clearly appreciated the round-the-clock access to reliable advice and reassurance.

"Callers have particularly appreciated the professionalism of the staff and the quality of advice they have been given." Mr Dobson added: "NHS Direct has handled around 75,000 calls from people needing health advice and support.

"There has been a huge variety of calls, but more than 40 per cent have been about young children. NHS Direct has proved to be an invaluable service, particularly for concerned parents."

The survey, which sampled more than 1,000 people who called, showed:

97 per cent of callers were either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the service they had received;

99 per cent of callers were pleased with the polite response they received from the nurses and call handling staff and

90 per cent of callers found that the advice they were given worked well in practice.

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