(Alliance News) - Totally PLC on Wednesday said it has been awarded a contract extension to provide national NHS 111 contingency support services for one year.

Totally shares jumped 19% to 5.50 pence each on Wednesday morning in London.

The Derby, England-based healthcare services provider said the contract, with the UK National Health Service in England, is worth GBP13 million.

111 is a free-to-call single non-emergency number medical helpline operating in England, Scotland and Wales.

The contract was awarded to Vocare Ltd, part of Totally Urgent Care, and will run for a 12-month period from February 16.

The contract is an extension of its original contract announced in January 2023 for GBP10 million per year. The extension will increase the level of support provided and indicates ongoing demand for the NHS 111 service, the firm said.

Chief Executive Wendy Lawrence said: "Totally has significant experience in providing quality, resilient and responsive NHS 111 services. To date, we have answered almost half a million calls as part of the NHS England's National Resilience programme. These calls would otherwise have gone unanswered leaving those seeking to access care without the support they needed. As demand has increased, we have responded, increasing capacity to ensure that calls to NHS 111 across the country are not abandoned.

"The extension of this contract for a further year means that Totally continues to be a core partner in the delivery of NHS 111 services until February 2025."

By Harvey Dorset, Alliance News reporter

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