Staff celebrate 10 years working for Beckenham NHS Direct's contact centre (From News Shopper)
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Staff celebrate 10 years working for Beckenham NHS Direct's contact centre
2:27pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Bromley By George Sargent
Staff from left to right: Julie Froggatt, Anne Jones, Jacqueline Beard, Samantha Long, Michelle Bennett, Caroline Healy, Claire Raymond and Carolyn Backway
11 members of staff are celebrating 10 years of working for NHS Direct’s Beckenham contact centre.
Since 2002 the eight women have provided health advice during the national health scares of foot and mouth disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bird flu and the swine flu pandemic.
In that time, calls handled by the service have almost doubled, with 22,000 calls now being handled each day.
NHS Direct staff provide health information and advice online, on mobiles and on 0845 46 47.
Nick Chapman, chief executive of NHS Direct, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to the all the staff who are celebrating their achievement.
“They are dedicated, committed and hard working and have made an exceptional contribution to the NHS.”
Team leader Samantha Long, 43, said: "Working for NHS Direct over the last 10 years has been a great experience and I have made some firm friends along the way.
"There’s been a lot of change over the 10 years as NHS Direct strives to keep on top of technological advancements and changes in patients’ expectations.
"When I first started working for NHS Direct I only dealt with local patients, whereas now I can deal with patients from all over the country, and I really enjoy the variety this brings".
