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NHS Choices
NHS Choices is the UK's biggest health website. The website helps you make choices about your health, from decisions about your lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking and exercise, to finding and using NHS services in England.
NHS Direct online
Website ite complementing the NHS Direct telephone information service for England (0845 4647 - 24 hours) that has interactive online tools, known as health and symptom checkers, which let you check your symptoms if you're feeling unwell.
NHS Direct online Wales
Website complementing the NHS Direct telephone information service for Wales (0845 4647 - 24 hours) including health features, healthcare guide, conditions and treatments, etc.
NHS 24
Website complementing the NHS Direct telephone information service for Scotland (08454 24 24 24 - 24 hours) including health features, healthcare guide, conditions and treatments, etc.
About the NHS
Lots of information about the NHS including: Structure; Core principles; History; Regulation; Constitution; The NHS Number. From the main NHS site.
A Junior Doctor's Guide to the NHS
Written for Junior Doctors - but of interest to all. Clarifies how the NHS works, its structure, PCTs, Trusts, how it is regulated, etc, etc.
NHS Care Records Service
The NHS in England is introducing the NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS). This is to improve the safety and quality of your care.
Patient Opinion
A NHS website where patients can tell their story and describe what the service was like that they received.
Patient Information Centre
From the website of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Includes sections called 'Understanding General Practice' and 'Using GP Services (Your Surgery)'.
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their aim is to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether that's in hospital, in care homes, in people's own homes, or elsewhere.
Direct Gov
Directgov is the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information. Other sites that provide NHS information.
Directory (web, postal and other) of UK Healthcare Providers
Web Links and Lists of Postal Addresses and Contacts for NHS Hospitals, Trusts and other Healthcare Providers. A link to Tagish services.
Directory of GP websites
More than 500 GP practices with web sites listed. Is your doctor on-line yet? As well as practice details, many GP web sites also include information on common illnesses, healthy living etc.
Dr Foster - Independent Guide to Healthcare Services
Whether NHS or private, gives some help on comparing healthcare between different hospitals and other providers.
National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS)
The National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) works with health organisations and individual practitioners where there is concern about the performance of a dentist, doctor or pharmacist.
National Patient Safety Agency
An independent body created in July 2001, the NPSA aims to improve the safety and quality of care through reporting, analysing and learning from adverse incidents and 'near misses' involving NHS patients. .
UK Screening Portal
Information about the antenatal and newborn, young person and adult, and cancer screening programmes across the UK.
NHS Plus
Delivers clear and concise information to employers, employees, occupational health providers and NHS staff. It provides a comprehensive resource on workplace risks and health issues and puts employers in touch with their local NHS Plus unit.
NHS Prescription Services
calculates the remuneration and reimbursement due to dispensing contractors across England. They also provide the NHS with a range of drug, financial and prescribing information.
Scottish Government - Health and Social Care
Health and social care information from the Scottish Government.
Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
Includes patient information about anaesthesia.
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health
Mainly for members but site includes some useful leaflets on a variety of topics.
The Association for Clinical Biochemistry Microbiology Group
Includes fact sheets on a variety of infectious diseases.
Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists
A professional organization for respiratory nurse specialists and respiratory nurse consultants who desire to develop a network, which would enable collaboration between primary and secondary care services and other agencies.
British Association for Counselling
Among other things it publishes directories and other information to enable those seeking counselling to make an informed choice.
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
A professional association but their website includes lots of information for the public about plastic surgery and various surgical operations. Check this site out first before embarking on plastic surgery.
British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
The British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons BAPRAS. Provides an overview of plastic/reconstructive surgery practice, explaining the wide role of plastic surgeons in burns, tissue loss etc, not just purely aesthetic work.
British Association of Psychotherapists
Specialises in individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy for adults, adolescents and children and is one of the foremost psychoanalytic psychotherapy training organisations in the country.
British Association of Occupational Therapists
The professional association of occupational therapists.
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf
The professional association for teachers of the deaf. Site includes information for teachers in schools, speech therapists, guidelines etc.
British Dental Association
Includes fact files for the general public on many aspects of dental health.
British Dietetic Association
This site provides members and the general public information about the BDA and its work.
British Institute of Radiology
A learned society for the radiological sciences.
British Medical Association (BMA)
Professional body for doctors.
British Medical Laser Association
A professional association concerned with the use of lasers in medicine but contains a section for non-medical people.
British Orthodontic Society
General information on Orthodontics, including the aims of orthodontic care, frequently asked questions and description and explanation of the advantages of Orthodontic treatment.
British Orthopaedic Association
Includes masses of links on orthopaedic related sites (although mainly for the professional).
British Psychological Society
Exists to promote the advancement of the study of psychology and its applications, and to maintain high standards of professional education and conduct.
British Society for Disability and Oral Health
A professional society but welcomes contact from disabled people or their carers who have experienced difficulty in obtaining dental care. A register is kept of the specific areas of interest of members, which can be used to put clients in touch with appropriate dental services.
British Society of Gastroenterology
An organisation focused on the promotion of gastroenterology within the United Kingdom.
British Society for Rheumatology
Professional organisation but also contains a patient information section on rheumatic disorders, what is a rheumatologist and about seeing a rheumatologist.
British Thoracic Society
The professional organisation for specialists in chest diseases. The site includes a useful patient information section.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Aims to support and promote members and their profession.
College of Optometrists
The professional, scientific and examining body for Optometry in the UK, that works exclusively for the public benefit.
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
The UK's leading professional body for sexual and relationship therapists.
Council for Psychotherapy (The UK)
A professional association to promote and maintain the profession of psychotherapy. Publishes a national register of psychotherapists annually.
Florence Nightingale Foundation
Advances the study of nursing and promotes excellence in nursing practice.
General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
The UK statutory body with regulatory powers, established by the Chiropracters Act 1994.
General Optical Council
The General Optical Council (GOC) is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Its purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education and conduct amongst opticians.
Health Professions Council (HPC)
Regulatory body responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, performance and conduct of the 12 healthcare professions that it regulates - arts therapy, clinical scientists, chiropody/podiatry, dietetics, medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, paramedics, speech and language therapy, prosthetics/orthotics, and radiography.
Independent Midwives Association
Exists for the dissemination of information about, and support for, independent midwives, and to lobby for the traditional role of the midwife.
Institute of Chiropodists & Podiatrists
Principally a site for professionals but has patient leaflets and a 'find a practitioner' service.
Midwives Information and Resource Service (MIDIRS)
Information on midwifery, pregnancy, childbirth, the newborn, and maternity services. statistics, government and official reports, books, conference proceedings, newspaper articles, and consumer information leaflets etc.
MidwivesOnline.com
Aims to ensure that midwives and the mothers/families cared for by them, have easy access to user-friendly, relevant, up-to-date information necessary to make decisions about their own and their baby's treatment and care.
NMAP
A guide to quality internet resources in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions.
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Exists to protect the public by setting standards for education, training and conduct for nurses,midwives and specialist community public health nurses in the UK.
Renal Association
The professional body for UK nephrologists. In addition to its twice yearly scientific meetings, the Association plays an active role in the development of renal services within the UK.
Royal College of Anaesthetists
A website to help find out more about anaesthesia.
Royal College of General Practitioners
Includes patient information about illness and disease and how the family doctor service works.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology
Information about the College including details of Courses and Events, Examination regulations and timetables and services for Fellows and Members.
Royal College of Pathologists
Aims to : advance the science and practice of pathology, further public education therein, and promote study and research work in pathology and related subjects and publish the results of such study and research.
Royal College of Physicians
Aims to maintain standards of medical practice in hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the aim of assuring quality care for patients.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Aims to promote the highest standards in medicine.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Their website includes patient information covering conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias and other psychological problems.
Royal College of Radiologists
The College's objectives are: the advancement of the science and practice of radiology, the furtherance of public education, and the promotion of study and research.
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Mainly a site for the profession but includes information on access to speech and language therapy services and obtaining names and addresses of private therapists.
Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh
Information about the college, its history etc.
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Includes some patient information on surgical procedures.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Performs various roles on behalf of the public and its members.
Royal College of Nursing
Represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies.
Royal College of Midwives
A professional organisation run by midwives for midwives. Their website give details of information and advice on a wide range of midwifery issues.
Royal Society of Medicine
Aims to provide a broad range of educational activities and opportunities for doctors, dentists, and veterinary surgeons, including students of these disciplines; and allied health-care professionals.
Social Care Association
Founded in 1949, the SCA is the leading professional voice for all staff groups in the Social Care service, wherever they work. The main aim of the Association is to promote high standards in Social Care services.
Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists
Includes foot health advice for everyone, including children, diabetics, sports enthusiasts and how to fit shoes properly.
Society of Endocrinology
Endocrinology is medicine concerning hormones such as thyroid disorders etc.
UKCC
United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health visiting. The the regulatory body for nurses, midwives and health visitors. Assuch, it deals with a range of nursing, midwifery and health-related issues, many of which will be of interest to the general public.
Wound Care Society
Aims to assist nurses to provide wound management based on sound research, whilst emphasising the importance of providing total care for the patient.
Department of Work and Pensions
Comprehensive information on benefits.
British Red Cross
Cares for vulnerable people everywhere, working in local communities in the UK and many countries overseas. Respond in the wake of major emergencies or disasters, such as train crashes or floods. They also provide a range of services to meet the personal emergencies of individuals.
Chief Medical Officer
The Government's principal medical adviser and Head of the Medical Civil Service. Located in the Department of Health, the CMO provides medical advice on the widest possible range of matters.
Chief Medical Officer (Scottish Executive)
The Scottish Executive's principal medical adviser.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
The government department which deals with food, air, land, water and people.
Food Standards Agency
The Agency's aim is to make sure the food we eat is safe, and to offer independent, balanced advice.
General Dental Council
The regulatory body of the dental profession. It protects the public by means of its statutory responsibilities for dental education, registration, professional conduct and health. You can search for registered dentists from this site.
General Medical Council
Every working doctor needs to be registered on the GMC list (the list a doctor can be 'struck off'). The GMC has strong and effective legal powers designed to maintain the standards the public have a right to expect of doctors.
Health Protection Agency
Plays a critical role in protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur. We also prepare for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strain of disease.
Health and Safety Executive
The HSE's business is to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled.
Health Service Ombudsman
The organisation to contact if you have a complaint about the service you have received from the NHS.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
A statutory body which regulates, licenses and collects data on fertility treatments such as IVF and donor insemination, as well as human embryo research, in the UK.
International Planned Parenthood Federation, the (IPPF)
Links national autonomous Family Planning Associations (FPAs) in over 150 countries worldwide. It is registered as a charity in the UK and is the largest voluntary organization in the world to be concerned with family planning and sexual and reproductive health.
Post Graduate Medical Education and Training Board
A statutory body which issues certificates to GPs who have successfully completed vocational training in the UK. Contains a searchable list of doctors who have a certificate to practice as a GP.
Medical Devices Agency (MDA)
The primary task of the MDA is to help safeguard public health by working with users, manufacturers and legislators to ensure that medical devices meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance.
National Blood Service
All you need to know about donating blood.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Working with clinical bodies, NICE will systematically appraise health interventions before they are introduced in the health service. It will offer clinicians clear guidelines on which treatments work best for patients, and which do not.
National Radiological Protection Board
The Board is a statutory body with responsibility to to advance the acquisition of knowledge about the protection of mankind from radiation hazards and to provide information in relation to the protection from radiation hazards.
National Voices
National Voices is the new umbrella organisation established by and for the voluntary sector. It brings together all national voluntary organisations representing users of health and social care to give them a stronger voice in policy-making.
Patient's Association
Listening to patients and speaking up for change.
Public Health Genetics Unit
A source of comprehensive scientific information on genetics. The diseases information database may be of particular interest.
Public Health Observatories - PHO
One of the intiatives proposed by the Government White Paper - Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation. The PHO will monitor the state of the health of the public and the factors that cause poor health and health inequalities to provide information for a range of organisations which promote health and well being.
Socialist Health Association
Debate and discussion about NHS and health topics.
UK Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit
The incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is monitored in the UK by the CJD surveillance unit. Also provides some background information about CJD and other human spongiform encephalopathies and some links to other resources.