Over the Christmas period, my 93-year-old auntie developed a chest infection, so I rang her surgery for the number of the out-of-hours doctor. Their recorded message said to phone 111.

After giving her details and symptoms, they said they would send an ambulance. I declined, stating that she was too ill to be moved, and had last stages dementia. All I wanted was a doctor to prescribe antibiotics.

They said they would send an ambulance to assess her and give me advice. So I agreed.

Rapid response arrived along with the ambulance and they couldn’t believe 111 had sent them. After waiting two hours for a call from the doctor that didn’t come until after they left, a doctor finally arrived late evening to prescribe the antibiotics.

How much did that cost the NHS?

Common sense has gone, they need to bring it back.

Jill Jordan

Totteridge Lane, Totteridge