Tens of thousands of reports of coronavirus symptoms made to NHS 111 service in Bedfordshire

NHS 111 services in Bedfordshire have logged tens of thousands of users reporting coronavirus symptoms since March, new figures show.

Total calls to the NHS 111 service in Luton and Bedfordshire dropped last month, however, as health think-tank the Nuffield Trust expressed concerns those who need urgent treatment may be put off seeking help.

NHS England data shows 40,343 occasions when someone in the NHS Bedfordshire CCG area logged possible Covid-19 symptoms from March 18 to May 14.

The vast majority of these (86 per cent) were through NHS 111 online assessments, with the remaining 14 per cent over the phone.

Across England, there were more than 3million reports of potential coronavirus through 111 services over the two-month period.

In Bedfordshire more than half of these (54 per cent) came in just two weeks in March, with only 6 per cent reported in the first two weeks of May.

Separate figures show the Luton and Bedfordshire 111 helpline received a total of 23,455 calls in April.

This was 46 per cent less than it did in March, when there were 43,676.

Sarah Scobie, the Nuffield Trust's deputy director of research, said the 111 tool was "essential" to keep patients with suspected Covid-19 symptoms safe, and those who seek advice on other conditions.

She said: "This month's data suggests that the NHS 111 service is less in demand this month, and better able to take the pressure off frontline services.

"A high number of NHS 111 calls and the fall in hospital attendances suggest that people are still making careful choices about going to hospitals.

"There are now legitimate concerns that those who do require urgent medical treatment may be put off from seeking help due to fear of infection or a desire to reduce pressure on overstretched health and services, despite some reassurances from the NHS that these services are still open."

Of the calls taken last month, 9 per cent were abandoned by callers kept waiting for 30 seconds or more.

This was an improvement on March, when 39 per cent were abandoned, but a rise on the ​5 per cent from last April.

The Health Foundation said the data shows that many people's needs may have gone unmet during the pandemic, while others' conditions may have become worse.

Sarah Deeny, assistant director of data analytics, added: "As they begin to resume core health services, it is vital that Government and the NHS understand the full extent of people’s unmet health needs."