Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM has commended NHS Direct staff after witnessing first hand the vital service they provide. 　

For over 12 years NHS Direct has been delivering the national helpline - 0845 4647, providing 24-hour medical information, advice and reassurance, and helping millions of callers each year.

They have three contact centres across Wales, Swansea in South West Wales, Bangor in North West Wales and Cwmbran in South East Wales.

After visiting the Bangor centre on Friday, Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren said:

"There are over 300 members of staff, both full and part time, 　currently working at the three 　NHS Direct Wales contact centres, which provide health advice and information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 　and it was good to meet some of the call handlers, triage nurses and health advisers　at the Bangor centre.

"They all work hard to provide this vital service and I praise them all for their dedication and enthusiasm. It can be very worrying when you or a loved one takes ill, particularly when it is outside surgery opening times, and it therefore reassuring to know that professional advice is always 　just a phone call away."

Picture caption: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with Lorraine Rowlands, Nurse Adviser, Iwan Griffiths, Clinical Manager, and Derek Browne, Nurse Adviser.