§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when NHS Direct will be available throughout England. [139574]
§ Ms StuartNHS Direct has been available to callers throughout England since the end of October this year. The period since NHS Direct's launch has been invaluable in shaping the service. NHS Direct is no longer a stand-alone telephone helpline. Independent evaluation highlights a service that is safe and popular, and increases access to advice and information without increasing demands on other parts of the NHS.
On 20 November we published a guide to NHS Direct called "NHS Direct, A gateway to healthcare", copies of which are available in the Library.