NHS Direct provides online relief as advice for treating bites and stings soars
26 Aug 2011
NHS Direct is encouraging people to use its ‘bites and stings’ online health and symptom checker as the latest call volumes show more people this year are turning to the service for advice on this topic.
There has been a 17% increase in the number of people calling the 0845 46 47 service for bites and stings advice since the beginning of May compared to the same time last year. Over 30,000 people have also used the ‘bites and stings’ online health and symptom checker over this period to get advice on the web or via their mobile app.
The health and symptom checker is available at https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/CheckSymptoms/SATs/BitesAndStings or through the NHS Direct app for iPhone and Android devices, and can assess people who have been bitten or stung by an insect or animal. Advice provided by the health and symptom checker includes how to ease and treat symptoms, how to deal with an allergic reaction and how to remove the sting. In some cases it may suggest further advice is sought from another health professional, for example a pharmacist. A call-back from an NHS Direct nurse advisor is only a click away if a further assessment is recommended.
Tricia Hamilton, NHS Direct Chief Nurse, said:
“We naturally see an increase in people contacting us about bites and stings in the summer months, but we’ve noticed a much greater demand for this type of advice this year.
“Being bitten or stung can be uncomfortable or painful and there are some really easy steps that can provide instant relief. The bites and stings health and symptom checker has been developed to give people the advice they need to manage their symptoms at home and to ensure that the skin doesn’t get infected. There are cases when a bite or sting can cause an allergic reaction, and we can provide rapid help to deal with more serious situations.”
The NHS Information Centre reported earlier this month that hospital admissions caused by bites and stings from non-venomous insects had increased by 19% from the year before.
