In his eletter response to our study of the impact of NHS Direct on
demand for immediate care, Dr Harper suggests that the results "come from
a department closely involved in the scheme, and therefore not entirely
free from conflicts of interest".
This suggestion is entirely unfounded. The research team's
relationship to NHS Direct extends only to evaluating it, and
communicating the findings as clearly and fairly as we are able. We have
no vested interest in the service's success or failure. I would
characterise our attitude to NHS Direct as one of "sympathetic
scepticism".
James Munro
Competing interests:
No competing interests
21 August 2000
James Munro
Consultant Senior Lecturer
Medical Care Research Unit, University of Sheffield
Rapid Response:
Re: Telephone advice lines - all just hot air
Dear Editor
In his eletter response to our study of the impact of NHS Direct on
demand for immediate care, Dr Harper suggests that the results "come from
a department closely involved in the scheme, and therefore not entirely
free from conflicts of interest".
This suggestion is entirely unfounded. The research team's
relationship to NHS Direct extends only to evaluating it, and
communicating the findings as clearly and fairly as we are able. We have
no vested interest in the service's success or failure. I would
characterise our attitude to NHS Direct as one of "sympathetic
scepticism".
James Munro
Competing interests: No competing interests