People in Cornwall needing help from the NHS 111 number will soon have their calls answered by people in Devon or further afield as the centre in Truro is set to close, with jobs also at risk.

The non-emergency health helpline has already had a dubious history, with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) taking over after Serco pulled out.

It is understood that up to 40 jobs are at risk at the call centre in Truro, with the trust in consultation with affected staff

The move has been blamed on winter resilience money from NHS England running out.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “SWASFT was commissioned to provide the NHS111 service from a control room in Truro from November until the end of March. At this time there is not a confirmed closure date for the control room, and this is being discussed with the affected staff as part of the on-going consultation with them.

“Where possible, the Trust will aim to retain the staff and discussions with these staff are on-going. 40 staff joined SWASFT from Serco and have been employed at the control room in Truro which was funded by the winter resilience money from NHS England – this funding has now come to an end.

“The Trust has two main control rooms based in Exeter in Devon and St Leonard’s in Dorset, and the public should be reassured that these control rooms provide the full resilience necessary to deliver effective health services to the communities and visitors across the area.”