For a medical emergency call 999. For urgent but non-emergency medical help call NHS 111.

Frequently asked questions

Content brief (not published)

Status
draft
Reference material
See extraction manifest for archived source (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en/About/FAQs). Do not republish verbatim; write original copy to current guidance.

Answers to common questions about NHS Direct and how to use the site.

Is NHS Direct the NHS?

No. We are an independent health information site. The official source of NHS patient information is nhs.uk, and the urgent-but-not-emergency service is NHS 111.

Can I get medical advice from this site?

No. Our pages are general information only. They cannot diagnose you or replace advice from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. For advice about your own symptoms use NHS 111.

How up to date is the information?

Every content page is reviewed against NHS.uk and NICE guidance and dated when it is last checked. Where a page links to current NHS resources, follow the link for the most up-to-date version.

Do you share my data?

We do not collect personal information about individual visitors. See our privacy policy and cookies policy for detail.

How do I report an error?

Please use our contact page. We aim to respond within five working days.