(NHS 24 in Scotland). A government-initiated, nationwide, telephone-based helpline which enables members of the public with a non-urgent enquiry about health to receive telephone advice from an operator guided by a computerised algorithm and supervised by professionals who then guides them on the most appropriate course of action: perhaps to attend the nearest accident and emergency department, a non-urgent visit to the general practitioner, or self-medication. The intention was to reduce the high workloads of GPs and A&E departments without endangering patients, but attendance has not fallen at either as a result.