11:00am Saturday 26th December 2009
PEOPLE worried about illness over the winter months can check their symptoms online.
NHS Direct claims the initiative will play a key role in helping take pressure off those services in high demand such as A&E departments and GP surgeries.
The online assessment provides information and advice to patients on all symptoms and conditions.
Where appropriate, it will give people advice on how they can treat their symptoms at home, or if necessary direct them to another health service.
For those people who need further advice they can click to get a call-back from an NHS Direct nurse advisor.
NHS Direct already provides a number of symptom checkers online on a range of topics including mental health, men’s sexual health, contraception and colds and flu.
However, this is the first time patients have been able to use a single tool for any symptom.
To assess your symptoms and get advice visit nhs.uk/nhsdirect
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