In England the NHS Direct service was scrapped along with the premium rate 0845 46 47 telephone number and replaced by a completely new service called NHS 111 using the free-to-caller number 111. This was phased in between 2011 and 2014. The merits or otherwise of the new service are best discussed elsewhere.

In Scotland, the NHS 24 service changed its number from premium rate 0845 424 2424 to the free-to-caller 111 number and retained the same functionality as before. This happened in 2014.

In Wales, NHS Direct Wales has continued using the premium rate 0845 46 47 number but has recently started a trial of using the free-to-caller 111 number in four small areas. The details of this limited trial can be found here:
http://www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk/Default.aspx?pageId=315&lan=en ;
http://www.was-tr.wales.nhs.uk/Default.aspx?pageId=315&lan=en

We await rollout of the new 111 number to the whole of Wales.