They would be accessed from a published phone number and would be answered by a triage AI which would have a repertoire of prompts designed to elicit appropriate replies to indicate the appropriate outcome.
The decision tree might look like this:
Is this a “999” situation? Yes- alert emergency services and ask for location
No |
Is this a a potential suicide? Yes- further prompts, if confirmed: appropriate referral.
No |
Establish identity (NHS number or NI number?) Not given- no further response
Given |
Should this be referred to GP? Yes- establish surgery, further prompts to elicit relevant details, input to appointment system if possible
No |
Is health advice being asked for? No- invite continuing when they feel like it.
Yes |
Provide it.
After an interval of a few hours, days, weeks or years of no inputs, as appropriate, a “do you want to continue?” prompt. Yes- no invite caller to continuing when they feel like it.
No- delete conversation
