A new NHS telephone service is launching in Wandsworth which will provide advice for patients.

The NHS 111 pilot is starting in Wandsworth later this year with care provider Harmoni selected to handle the service.

NHS 111 aims to make it easier for people to access non emergency local health services.

Patients calling the service will be assessed, given advice and directed to the most appropriate service that can help them.

It will be open 24 hours a day and is free to call from landline and mobile numbers.

The service will initially only be accesible to Wandsworth residents, but will be rolled out across England by April 2013. The service was successfully launched in Croydon in March this year.

Dr Tom Coffey, NHS 111 clinical lead for NHS Wandsworth said: "The NHS 111 service is vital to the development of a sustainable local urgent care system for Wandsworth."

"Harmoni bring with them a wealth of experience from other pilot areas and a real commitment to providing local residents with a high quality service."

Andrew Gardner, chief executive of Harmoni, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have been successful in our bid to provide the NHS 111 pilot service in Wandsworth.

"We are committed to providing the residents of Wandsworth with a reliable NHS 111 service and working with the local community to develop the service over the next two years."