NHS Direct

Use NHS Direct.

Update - 20th December 2010. Calls to NHS Direct's telephone helpline have been significantly higher than expected over the past couple of weeks and because of this, some callers are experiencing long waits for call-backs. Instead of using the phone service patients can get advice on how to cope with diarrhoea and vomiting or colds and flu symptoms through NHS Direct's online health and symptom checkers available at www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect .

They work by asking you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and, depending on the information provided, patients may get advice on how they can treat their symptoms at home with over-the-counter medicines. In more severe cases, they may be advised to seek further advice and the symptom checker can direct them to the most appropriate health service. The advice will be the same as from a telephone advisor. A call-back from an NHS Direct nurse advisor can be arranged through the symptom checker if further advice is needed.

NHS Direct offers confidential health advice and information by telephone, internet and digital TV, 24 hours a day.

Contact NHS Direct if you are ill or injured and have any questions about health. The service can also help you to find health services in your local area.

Useful links and information

NHS Direct
Tel: 0845 46 47

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