Patient information site rivals NHS Direct Online

Patient information website patient.co.uk has claimed that it is now as popular as NHS Direct Online, with just under 1.2m visitors received last month.

The site, maintained by husband and wife team Dr Tim and Beverley Kenny, contains the same patient information leaflets that health professionals give to patients about any conditions that they are diagnosed with, as well as links to self-help groups, lifestyle advice and . It is backed by GP software provider EMIS

Dr Tim Kenny told E-Health Insider that he started the site in 1997 as a hobby, putting up general health information while he authored EMIS’s patient information leaflets as part of his company, Patient Information Publications. "In 2002, I persuaded them to come on board, and put the content we have on the EMIS site that they give to patients onto the web," he said. "It’s really from then that it’s gone from strength to strength."

"Essentially the core set of information leaflets on the website is the same as those GPs and practice nurses print off to give to their patients from their practice computer," explained Dr Kenny, who added that he felt giving people URLs to review information after a consultation was an important part of care.

Patients’ retention of information after seeing their GP is "an academic interest of mine," said Dr Kenny. "50% of what is discussed in the consultation is forgotten within 5 minutes. I believe in giving people written information."

Top searches by users include hypertension, MRSA, thrush, acid reflux and underactive thyroid, and a simple, icon-based interface is used so that patients can see exactly what kind of information is available.

Recently the site incorporated PatientPlus information, designed for health professionals. In a recent survey, around 97% of people thought that this level of information was understandable and useful.

According to Dr Kenny, the 1.2m visitors consist of patients being given the URLs by their, searchers and also health professionals looking for information. The site also incorporates a link to EMIS Access, where patients can book appointments at any surgery with compatible software.

"To a sceptical GP, I would say there’s no doubt from the literature that patients benefit from good quality written information about their diseases and health problems," said Dr Kenny. "The care information leaflets are based on good clinical evidence. We spend a lot of time revising leaflets and writing new ones."

It is important not to sensationalise any information on the site, and to keep a fair and honest balance, said Dr Kenny. "It’s fairly broad in a way. That’s a deliberate editorial approach… We would like to think that it’s the first port of call if patients have a diagnosis."

Dr David Stables, co-founder of EMIS, said of patient.co.uk: "These latest statistics prove that it is now one of the first websites patients turn to for high quality information they can trust. If somebody is ill, they can quickly glean some information before booking an appointment to see their GP."

Dr Stables added: "The web will never replace a face-to-face consultation with your GP, but more and more people are taking responsibility for their own health in this way."

According to Department of Health figures, NHS Direct Online reported 964,742 unique visits in January this year, and 4744 health information enquiry requests.