AN ONLINE project aimed at helping people in Northern Ireland "self-manage" their illnesses has been launched by the health service.
With more than 600 conditions listed on the A-Z resource, the scheme has links to GP surgeries, community pharmacies and other NHS services.
The site, nidirect.gov.uk/symptom-search, is a Health and Social Care Board project backed by other bodies including the Department of Health and Public Health Agency.
Its launch comes at a time of spiralling hospital waiting lists, A&E pressures and delays to see GPs.
Those behind the service say they want to help users find quality "trusted information" on conditions, aimed at making it easier to "self-manage their illness or know when and how to seek help from a healthcare professional".
The site has been developed with the help of patients.
Richard Pengelly, the health department's most senior civil servant, launched it earlier this week.
He described the project as a "straightforward and customer-friendly way for the public to seek healthcare advice".
"By harnessing technology in this way, it helps us empower people to be more active in their own care and, in addition, has the potential to reduce demand on GPs and emergency departments," he said.
"Already the 'health and wellbeing' section is one of the most visited elements of the nidirect site with over 130,000 visits monthly and we fully expect this to increase significantly."
