HEALTH bosses are recruiting nurses to staff a pioneering "round the clock" service.

Bolton Community Healthcare Trust is working in partnership with Bolton District Medical Service, Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, Wigan and Bolton Health Authority and Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust to establish a 24-hour telephone helpline service by April 1.

Adverts have already appeared for qualified nurses to man the telephone line.

Initially Bolton Community Trust is looking to appoint the equivalent of six full-time staff although it is anticipated this will be made up of part-time nurses working on a shift basis to deliver the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Trust will be looking to recruit nurses who have a wide range of clinical skills, first class telephone and communication qualities, computer awareness and an enthusiasm to make the new service a success.

"The advice and information offered to people telephoning NHS Direct will be accurate, consistent and based on the most up to date clinical practice," said a spokesman for the Trust.

"All nurses recruited to work for NHS Direct will undertake thorough training prior to starting and will continue to receive regular updating and support."

NHS Direct will advise patients on any aspect of illness or healthcare.

In addition to providing an immediate response to illness, NHS Direct will provide health related information literature and advise on other agencies able to deal with specific problems, such as mental health services, social services and out of hours pharmacists and dentists.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.