FREEPHONE 0800 66 55 44

The National Health Service provides a freephone Health Information Service for the public on 0800 66 55 44.

Your call will automatically be routed to a local information centre, providing access to local information as well as details of national organisations and services. Calls are answered by trained information staff and are in complete confidence. Medical advice and counselling is not provided. Health Information Service centres are open at least from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, and in some areas there are longer hours.

Phone the Health Information Service free of charge for information on:

• NHS services

• self help and support organisation

• keeping healthy

• illnesses and treatments

• waiting times

• rights and how to complain

0800 66 55 44 covers England and Wales. In Scotland similar information is provided on 0800 22 44 88

Details of the Health Information Service and other national helplines are given on the Department of Health site at:

http://www.open.gov.uk/doh/phone.htm