THE health body which runs the NHS's non-emergency helpline 111 in Notts is investigating two deaths, it has been revealed.
According to the general practitioners trade magazine Pulse, an 83-year-old in the East Midlands died after a friend called 111 to say that the person had collapsed with severe abdominal pain.
When paramedics arrived the patient was dead, and the report says the call centre may have delayed calling an ambulance.
A second death, involving a suspected overdose, is also being investigated. The patient's family called 111 and requested mental health assistance but the patient was found dead at home.
And a third death is also being looked into in the West Midlands area after the patient dialed 111 and was told to go to the nearest GP clinic.
A total of 22 serious incidents are being investigated, in relation the non-emergency helpline, which was rolled out nationally last month.
A spokesman from Derbyshire Health United - which covers NHS 111 in Derbyshire, Notts and Northamptonshire - said it was investigating the two deaths in the East Midlands but that it believed the system and processes that were followed would have been "exactly as expected".
A Department of Health spokesman said: "We know that there is pressure on urgent care services and this isn't just about A&E, it's also about how the NHS works as a whole, and how it works with other areas such as social care.
"We are in discussions with NHS England and others to see how best to get long-term solutions to a long-term problem."
NHS England did not confirm the reports, but said: "The safety of patients must be our paramount concern and NHS England will keep a careful eye on the situation to ensure NHS 111 provides not only a good service to the public, but one which is also safe."
