NHS Direct
NHS Direct is the health advice and information service provided by the National Health Service (NHS) for residents and visitors in England, with advice offered through telephone contact on the national 0845 46 47 number and multi-channel digital service 24 hours a day, every day of the year. As a part of the National Health Service, all NHS Direct services are free at the point of care.
Users of the service, through whichever channel, are asked questions about their symptoms or problem. Common problems are often given simple self care advice, which they can follow thereby avoiding an expensive visit to a health care professional. More complex problems are assessed by a nurse and can then be given treatment advice or referred on to another service within the NHS.
As well as these core services, NHS Direct provides a number of commissioned services throughout the NHS, such as specialised support for patients with long term conditions, access to GP and dental healthcare out of hours, and a professional response system for times of public health anxiety.
NHS Direct only provides its service for residents and visitors in England, and there are corresponding public services covering...
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