Suicidal callers to NHS helpline 'put on hold until they hang up'

The newspaper said it found call handlers asleep at their desks or describing themselves on "busy" on the internal computer system to avoid new calls and new patients.

The NHS is investigating claims by an undercover reporter that suicidal patients calling the NHS 111 helpline are being left on hold until they hang up while staff are asleep on duty.

The Sun placed a reporter at the NHS 111 call centre at St Charles Hospital in Ladbroke Grove, west London, which provides 24-hour support for callers from 11 boroughs in north, west and central London.