THE NHS service which pulled out of operating a non-emergency phone number in north Essex has revealed it plans to withdraw from nine other regions.

Earlier this month, NHS Direct cancelled its contract to run the 111 number in Colchester and Tendring, as well as Cornwall, because it was strapped for cash.

Now, the company has announced it planned to withdraw from nine other regions because the contracts were “financially unsustainable”.

The 111 system was set up for patients with urgent but not life-threatening symptoms in a bid to relieve tensions in A&E departments.