NHS launches new online health A-Z index
pharmafile | February 8, 2008 | News story | Medical Communications |
NHS Choices, the online 'front door' for the NHS, has released an updated online information resource aimed at helping the UK public and patients find facts on more than 700 conditions and treatments.
The NHS says its Health A-Z website relies on accredited information, and claims it "tells users all they need to know on a topic in seconds, providing them with clinically approved guidance so they can become experts".
NHS Choices offers a mix of original content including written material and video, as well as links to recent health stories from the BBC, Daily Mail and other media sources.
A special commentary on recent UK news coverage of health, medical conditions and medicines called Behind the Headlines is also available.
In total, the website boasts 80,000 pages of content, plus interactive tools, a daily news service and lifestyle features. Users can also check and compare hospital and doctors' profiles and performance on-line.
The site's Health A-Z has in-depth profiles of five conditions: arthritis, back pain, diabetes eczema and heart disease, including overviews of medications used in each field.
"This directory has been created with users in mind and is a valuable addition to an ever growing armoury of health resources being made available to the public by NHS Choices," said a spokesman. "It puts patients in the driving seat by giving them exactly the sort of reliable and dependable information they need to take control of their health at the click of a mouse."
Behind the headlines – health stories screened
Of particular interest to the pharmaceutical industry will be the website's Behind the Headlines section, which profiles recent health stories in the UK media, and provides users with guidance on their significance and accuracy.
Behind the Headlines is the brainchild of Sir Muir Gray, who holds the post of chief knowledge officer of the NHS.
Sir Muir Gray has worked in public health for 35 years. He pioneered Britain's breast and cervical cancer screening programmes and was knighted in 2005 for the development of the foetal, maternal and child screening programme and the creation of the National Library for Health.
Behind the Headlines is also intended to provide an authoritative resource for GPs for when they are talking to patients and a resource for journalists and other health commentators.
Sir Muir Gray said: "Scientists hate disease and want see it conquered, but this can lead to them taking an overly optimistic view of their discoveries, which is often reflected in newspaper headlines.
"Our service has more time to examine the science behind the stories. Independent experts check the findings and assess the research methods to provide a more considered view."
The website's coverage will also comment on stories that focus on the dangers and drawbacks of medicine. One recent entry commented on the safety concerns around Avandia, but was careful to neither reinforce nor dismiss the fears.
Related Link:
