"111 Out of Hours"

I care for my elderly parents but I live 2 hours drive from them.

On Sunday I received a phone call from mum, using the special picture phone (as she has dementia) to say Dad not well, not with it, not himself. I phoned his GP expecting to be put through to the out of hours service but instead the message said call 111.

This was when I discovered that you can't contact the 111 service for an area where you don't live. I was told there was no way I could get medical help for my Dad at the weekend/evening without calling an ambulance.

I did try asking Mum to call 111 but she was unable to remember this information. Fortunately on this occasion Dad rallied. But I foresee Dad will end his life in hospital simply because there will be no one who can visit him when the time comes. I thought the NHS was keen to avoid this. I certainly don't want him to die on a trolley in A/E.

I think there should be a way for distant carers to get out of hours help.