Coming soon…health advice on digital TV

By next Christmas, many viewers with digital televisions will be able to access hangover cures and other healthy advice from the NHS on their screens between re-runs of the Great Escape and seasonal episodes of Only Fools and Horses.

 

The Department of Health announced today that MMTV Ltd, a company specialising in interactive TV applications, has been appointed to develop and run a new NHS Direct Digital TV service.

 

Announcing the new service, which will cost £15 million over three years, health minister Rosie Winterton said: "During the summer of 2004, NHS Direct Digital TV will be launched in stages across the digital TV networks and we aim to make it available to as many digital TV viewers as possible by the end of next year.

 

"This innovative service will provide patients and the public with high quality health information from a trusted and reliable source. There will be advice to help users treat common health problems at home. Information on conditions and treatments will allow them to make informed choices about their health care.”

 

The initial offering will include information on NHS services such as GPs, dentists and pharmacies; an encyclopaedia of illnesses and conditions, tests, treatment and operations; self-care advice on treating common health problems, advice on health living and on current health issues.

 

The service is set to develop over the coming years to include interactive facilities such as repeat prescription ordering.