NHS Direct to close NHS Direct has announced that it will close next March.

The troubled organisation pulled out of NHS 111 services provision earlier this year after problems rolling out the contracts in a number of areas. Staff and call centres associated with the NHS 111 contracts are due to transfer to five ambulance trusts by the end of this month. In the light of the transfers, the Board of NHS Direct reviewed its future as a viable independent organisation and, in agreement with the NHS Trust Development Authority and NHS England, arrived at the decision to cease operations at the end of this financial year. Chair of NHS Direct, Joanne Shaw, said: The closure of NHS Direct marks the end of its 15 years of continuous innovation, during which time it has led the world in remote health assessment, advice and information. It is an enormous privilege to have been part of this journey, and I look back over my ten years with NHS Direct with gratitude and respect for the staff who have created this exceptional service. I look forward to seeing other organisations take forward a number of the services developed by NHS Direct, and I wish them well as they exploit the ever-growing reach and power of technology, to provide value to patients and the NHS.’