DOCTORS will work in the call centre that provides the NHS 111 service for East Lancashire, according to a medical magazine.

Pulse reported that North West Ambulance Service, which runs the 111 advice service from a call centre in Bolton, is part of a pilot project testing how GPs could contribute.

The helpline, which used to be provided by NHS Direct, has been criticised for not employing enough clinically-trained staff.

The trial will include looking at how ‘clinical outcomes’ are affected by having GPs patrolling the call centre floors or by situating them at out-of-hours sites.