About NHS Direct
NHS Direct is an independent health information website written for people living in the UK. This section explains what we do, how we work, and how to get in touch. We are not the NHS and do not provide a clinical service — for advice about your own symptoms use NHS 111.
Get advice about your symptoms
If you are unwell and unsure what to do, use one of the routes below. They are free and available across the UK, and can direct you to the right service.
- Check your symptoms online at 111.nhs.uk
- Call 111 for free 24-hour advice from NHS 111
- Speak to a pharmacist for advice on minor problems — no appointment needed
- Contact your GP for non-urgent medical problems
Call 999 immediately in a life-threatening emergency — for example loss of consciousness, severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding or a suspected stroke.
What this section covers
- What NHS Direct is (and is not)
- How we source and review content
- How to contact us
- Accessibility and cookies
- Terms of use and privacy
Explore this section
Choose a topic from the list below for more detail. Every page on NHS Direct is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
See our about page and editorial policy for how we produce and review content.
In this section
- AccessibilityAccessibility — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get in touch.…
- Contact usContact us — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get in…
- Corporate information (NHS Direct archive)Corporate information (NHS Direct archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS…
- Freedom of Information (NHS Direct archive)Freedom of Information (NHS Direct archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how…
- Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get…
- Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get…
- How to get advice by phoneHow to get advice by phone — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and…
- How we use cookiesHow we use cookies — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to…
- Jobs (NHS Direct archive)Jobs (NHS Direct archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct…
- Mobile appsMobile apps — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get in…
- NHS 111 — Frequently asked questionsNHS 111 — Frequently asked questions — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and…
- NHS Direct members scheme (archive)NHS Direct members scheme (archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS…
- Ordering promotional items (archive)Ordering promotional items (archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct…
- Partnerships (archive)Partnerships (archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct now signposts…
- Patient satisfaction surveys (archive)Patient satisfaction surveys (archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct…
- Procurements and contracts (archive)Procurements and contracts (archive) — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct…
- Safeguarding children statementSafeguarding children statement — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get…
- Social mediaSocial media — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get in…
- Terms and conditionsTerms and conditions — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get…
- Using UK health information onlineUsing UK health information online — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how…
- What was NHS Direct?What was NHS Direct? — background information relating to the former NHS Direct organisation and how NHS Direct…
- Winter health adviceWinter health advice — information about NHS Direct: what we publish, how we work and how to get…