NHS Direct is at the forefront of 24-hour health care - delivering telephone and e-health information services day and night direct to the public. Although the organisation started out in 1997, it has been growing and changing over that time, most noticeably since April 2004.

It is now far more than a telephone health line - NHS Direct has an authoritative health website, and 2004 saw the addition of the NHS Direct digital TV service - one of the largest interactive services in the UK.  Over two million people now access NHS Direct every month.

Mission statement

To provide information and advice about health, illness and health services, to enable patients to make decisions about their healthcare and that of their families.