The NHS in north London is hoping a new streamlined service for people calling 111 will help patients get necessary care quicker.

Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington Clinical Commissioning groups (CCGs) are combining their 111 number with an out-of-hours doctor service run by GPs.

Patients can phone 111 when they have a health concern which is urgent but not serious enough for A&E.

Now the service is being controlled by GPs group LCW, and it is hoped patients will get specialist care quicker and spend less time being passed between different parts of the NHS, having to repeat their story multiple times.

Patients will not see any change and will call 111 for urgent health advice, to speak to an out-of-hours doctor, and arrange an appointment or a home visit.

Dr Sam Shah, head of the new service, said: “Bringing these two services together is a hugely important first step in improving urgent care services for patients in north central London.

“Patients won’t notice an immediate difference, but the new service will enable the NHS to support more patients, more quickly and more conveniently.”