NHS Direct is encouraging patients to use its suite of online health and symptom checkers to get trusted health advice through the busy winter period.
NHS Direct has a suite of 40 health and symptom checkers, which are available online or via a free mobile app for Android and iPhone smartphones. They can provide immediate self-care advice, so that patients can manage their symptoms at home, or advice on the most appropriate health service to contact. If further advice is required, a call-back with a nurse advisor can be arranged.
The online health and symptom checkers cover a wide range of problems such as dental pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, abdominal pain, back pain, rashes, burns and colds and flu. There is also the opportunity to get more specialist advice on issues such as mental health, contraception, sexual health matters and pregnancy problems.
The range of health and symptom checkers can be viewed at: www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect
More information about the mobile app, and how to download it, is available at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/apps
