Girl with 'potentially fatal appendicitis could have died due to NHS helpline 111' after doctor failed to call her parents back Beau Marshall's parents were assured a doctor would call back within hours But more than week on, they have still not received a call from 111 service The parents took Beau to hospital themselves as her condition worsened The youngster was diagnosed within hours and has had appendix removed 'Could have died': Beau Marshall's parents are still waiting for a doctor to call them back more than a week after calling the 111 NHS helpline A girl of ten could have died if her parents had relied on the controversial new NHS 111 helpline, they said last night. Beau Marshall was ill with stomach cramps last Saturday when her worried mother Candice phoned the service that is being piloted in her area. She spoke first to a call-centre worker, then to someone else with some medical training - who assured her a doctor would phone back within two hours to assess the little girl and possibly to arrange a home visit. But more than a week on, the doctor has still not called and if Mrs Marshall had followed NHS advice her daughter could have died. For when Beau's condition worsened, her parents drove to hospital themselves. Within two hours, the youngster was diagnosed with potentially fatal appendicitis and her 'very inflamed' appendix was removed. Last night Beau's parents added their voices to the growing concern over the introduction of the 111 service. Doctors have warned lives could be at risk, saying some of the £16,000-a-year call-centre workers who are manning the phone lines are only partially trained. As well as claims of potentially fatal conditions being missed, there have already been reports of ambulances being sent to people with hiccups. The call-centre staff simply work through computer checklists to ascertain the seriousness of each call. The idea is the new service combines the long-running NHS Direct helpline with local emergency out-of-hours services. But staff have been recruited for as little as £8 per hour to man the phone lines. Job adverts suggest they require no medical experience but should have telesales experience and typing skills. Controversy: Beau's parents added their voices to the concern over the 111 service (library image) The British Medical Association has called for the introduction of the service across most of England to be delayed until problems are resolved. Those taking the calls do not need to be medically trained at all, and instead work through computer check lists as callers tell them their symptoms. They may then be referred to speak on the phone with nurses or doctors if necessary. Already in operation in 22 NHS regions, NHS 111 is due to 'go live' across the North of the Tyne and Tees area tomorrow and in a further 13 areas over the coming month. Beau's father Paul Marshall, who lives with his wife, three daughters and young son in Bournemouth, said: 'When my daughter had stomach pains last Saturday, my wife dialled 111 and they told us a doctor would phone back within two hours. 'They still haven't phoned back yet. We took her to accident and emergency in the end, and within two-and-a-half-hours of Beau being seen by the triage nurse, she was being operated on. 'The 111 service was awful - they didn't know who was doing what. If we had solely gone on what they said, potentially she could have died. Mrs Marshall, a housewife, said: 'When I dialled 111 they asked me lots of questions. Because she had banged her head with a boy in her class, they were more interested her a non-existent head injury than the pain in her abdomen. Concerns: Doctors have warned lives could be at risk because some staff are only partially-trained 'She'd been sick as well, and that can be another sign of a head injury - but of course it is also a sign of appendicitis. The first guy I spoke to said he was going to be a clinician to phone back, and about ten minutes later someone did. 'She tried to get us an out-of-hours appointment at 9.30pm last Saturday, but couldn't get us one until the next day, so said "I'm going to get an out of hours doctor to phone you, and if he thinks it necessary he'll come out and assess her." That was eight days ago. A doctor still hasn't called back.' Beau was kept in hospital until Monday, and has made a full recovery. A spokesman for NHS England, the body managing the NHS 111 service's introduction, said: 'This is a very important service for the public and we will make sure everything is in place to make a safe, high quality service that patients and the public can trust. Many sites are already up and running, but in areas where NHS 111 is not yet available we will make a thorough assessment of readiness before new sites are introduced. The public can be assured the areas that already have NHS 111 will continue this service. In those areas where NHS 111 is not yet in place they can ring NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. All GP surgeries also have messages advising what to do.