Not all 999 calls require an ambulance

The move will be introduced in the spring in a bid to ensure that patients get the most appropriate response.

It will see the least-urgent 999 calls being dealt with over the phone by NHS 24's nurses rather than an ambulance being sent out.

A pilot scheme in Edinburgh showed that 15% of 999 calls in Scotland could be handled by NHS 24.

Rather than expecting if you phone 999 you always get a white van and two men in green suits, we have to flow patients through the system Dr George Crooks NHS 24

The six-week pilot study, which was conducted in October and November, saw two senior nurses posted to the Scottish Ambulance Service control centre in the capital.

The calls deemed to be least urgent were passed through to the nurses, who were able to give advice and refer the caller to a GP, dental nurse or mental health specialist.

Under the new scheme, callers who do not need an ambulance and hospital treatment will be electronically re-routed through a new IT system to NHS 24.

The clinical director of NHS 24, Dr George Crooks, who also holds the post of interim medical director at the Scottish Ambulance Service, said the move would ensure callers received the correct response.

'Inappropriate choice'

He said: "At the moment, we are still asking patients to make a decision about which part of the service they need to access, NHS 24 or the ambulance service, at a time when they are panicky and worried about themselves or a neighbour or family member.

"Common sense at these times sometimes goes out the window. People will sometimes make an inappropriate choice and we should not blame them for that, so we have to have a way of making sure we can route patients to the most appropriate end point.

"Rather than expecting if you phone 999 you always get a white van and two men in green suits, we have to flow patients through the system."

When the system is rolled out across Scotland in the spring, up to 6,000 calls a month could be handled by NHS 24 staff.

Working partnership

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "There are no plans to amalgamate the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24.

"This welcome development recognises the close working partnership that exists between these two complementary organisations and the excellent working that exists in NHS Scotland.