200 jobs at new NHS service
A CALL centre is set to open in Stoke Gifford to run a new NHS telephone service, creating almost 200 jobs.
Private operator Harmoni has been awarded the contract to run the 111 non-emergency telephone service by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
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The announcement comes just weeks after concerns were raised about 100 jobs at the Almondsbury NHS Direct call centre. Health workers' union Unison said it feared the jobs would be lost because NHS Direct would not be providing the 111 service, which will go live from April.
At the time the NHS Direct chief executive Nick Chapman said that no job losses had been confirmed but news that Harmoni has won the contract casts further doubt on the NHS Direct jobs.
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Harmoni describes itself as the largest independent provider of primary care services to the NHS. Originally set up by GPs in Harrow, London, to provide out of hours services, earlier this month it was bought by private healthcare firm Care UK for £48 million.
Harmoni is in the process of renovating its new premises and recruiting 150 health advisors, 35 clinical advisors plus supervisors and support staff.
Liz Hill, recruitment officer at Harmoni, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won the contract and to have the opportunity to bring all these jobs to the area."
She said the new recruits would include "registered nurses or paramedics with significant care or emergency care experience".
The government is scrapping NHS Direct's 0845 46 47 helpline and replacing it with a new service called NHS 111, after the number people will need to dial for help.
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