Subject: DOH:HEALTH INFORMATION DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 2004/0147 26 April 2004 HEALTH INFORMATION DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Millions of people are set to become healthcare experts in their own home, thanks to a new health guide based on NHS Direct information in Thomson Local telephone directories that are being delivered across England. Thomson Local directories now include easy to use, step by step healthcare advice and information covering over 25 of the most common adult and child health problems with advice on how to treat symptoms at home where appropriate. It also contains Department of Health campaign messages such as tobacco education, immunisation and Get the Right Treatment, a campaign that informs people about the range of healthcare options available and how to use local services appropriately. This unique partnership between NHS Direct, the Department of Health and Thomson Local telephone directories means that the 64 page self-help guide, will be distributed to over 18 million households in England over the next year. Minister of State for Health Rosie Winterton said: "This guide will equip people with the information they need to make healthcare decisions. There are now more healthcare options available than ever before, and by making the right choice at the right time, people will get the fastest, best possible treatment. For example, pharmacists are easily accessible and offer a range of services in addition to advising patients. "Almost 90% of respondents to the Choice Consultation Survey told us that they needed more information in order to make decisions and choices about their treatment or care. This initiative is an important step in responding to people's needs." David Edmonds, Chair of the NHS Direct Special Health Authority said: "The self-help guide has always proved popular and demand has always exceeded supply. This opportunity to provide useful health information in telephone directories is an excellent way of making this valuable resource widely available to almost every home in England. It is a cost effective way of providing people with quality-assured, trusted information about healthcare choices." Linda Pancratz, Chief Executive of Thomson Local Directories said: "We are very proud to be part of this innovative project. With our widespread distribution and community-focused heritage we are the ideal method to provide this valuable information to over 18 million homes in England." Notes to editors - The NHS Direct self-help guide can also be accessed by visiting www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk - The NHS Direct self-help guide 'Not feeling well?' has proved popular since its launch in 1999. It is a free publication that has been distributed through pharmacies, NHS Walk-in Centres, new mother packs, local NHS Direct initiatives and supermarkets. - Croydon and High Wycombe residents have already received their directories and the directories will be delivered to the rest of the country over the next few months. - This initiative is part of the work to deliver an 'Information Revolution' announced in the command paper 'Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS' (December 2003). More detail is available on the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/ResponsesToConsultations/ResponsesToConsultationsDocumentSummary/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4068391&chk=K2l%2BzZ - The establishment of NHS Direct as a Special Health Authority took place on the 1stApril 2004. 'Developing NHS Direct: A strategy for the next three years' is available on the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4005397&chk=Gw5jbg For further information, please contact Katie Robinson at the Department of Health media centre on 020 7210 5329. [ENDS] -------------------------------------------------------------------- GNNREF: 93786 Issued by : DOH Press Office Contact : If you have any queries relating to this press release, please forward this e-mail to the Press Office e-mail address provided above, or alternatively contact the originating Press Office by telephone. (Media queries only) Please DO NOT attempt to reply to the sender of this e-mail. The sender is involved solely as a broadcasting agent and cannot process e-mailed queries. Any attached files with a .DOC extension should be read using a word processor capable of reading Word 97 files. If you believe that the originating body is sending you Word 2000 files that you are not yet capable of reading, ask them to save future files in an earlier version.