This paper addresses the question 'Is the introduction of a local nurse telephone triage (NTT) in primary care likely to deliver health care benefits additional to those of the current (and future) system of NHS Direct?' To do this we reviewed the literature on effectiveness and the cost of local NTT.
This paper should be read in conjunction with 'Telephone triage services: systematic review of the literature and survey of Canadian call centre programmes' by Stacey D et al, CCOHTA, Ottawa, Canada, 2003. Obtainable from: http://www.ccohta.ca/publications/pdf/180_ teletriage_ tr_ e.pdf .