NHS Direct’s online symptom checkers have won the E-Health Insider award for Best Use of ICT in Patient and Citizen Involvement.
The awards, in their third year, recognise and reward outstanding teams in UK healthcare information technology.
Our joint submission with partners Digital Public highlighted the way in which we have made use of our members and patients during the development of the symptom checkers.
Our members were essential in providing feedback through focus groups and online surveys, helping us to ensure that these tools provide informative, easy-to-use health information and advice. The judges were impressed with the way in which the development team engaged with the public at every stage throughout the design and build of a new tool.
NHS Direct’s symptom checkers include a Colds and Flu symptom checker, which has been used extensively during the flu pandemic, and a new Mental Health checker launched in October 2009 in time for World Mental Health day.
