September 2004
Thomson Local has joined forces with the Department of Health and NHS Direct to provide a comprehensive self-help guide for you and your family's health.

The 64-page NHS Direct self-help guide has been incorporated into the back of the Thomson Local directory that is delivered to homes throughout England , free of charge. The guide offers advice on everything from toothache, headaches and rashes to burns and breast changes.

Bringing useful healthcare advice to every home, this new section of the Thomson Local directory aims to provide a handy reference for many every day conditions and each section features useful questions and answers which allow you to quickly assess your symptoms

The guide also provides information on what constitutes an emergency and advises what to do in such a situation. There's also an explanation of how to put someone in the recovery position.

Parent aid
For parents, there's a helpful section entitled ‘How do I know if my baby is ill?', as well as advice on a number of children's ailments which can be found throughout the guide.

For mums and dads with young children and babies, it can often be hard to tell the difference between an upset tummy and a more serious stomach condition. The ‘Tummy Pain in Children' section provides a step-by-step guide to help parent's assess their child's symptoms and take appropriate action.

Myth-busting
The guide also seeks to dispel some common healthcare myths, such as ‘Accident and emergency is an alternative to your GP'. The ‘Some Healthcare Myths' section contains the answer to this and many other common healthcare misconceptions.

NHS Direct
Underpinning the self-help guide is the NHS Direct telephone service itself. Staffed by experienced nurses and professional advisors, the 24 hour, confidential helpline provides health advice and information for you and your family. Details of how to contact the NHS Direct telephone service can be found at the start of the guide. There's also information about how to access the NHS Direct Online website for health information.

So if you need healthcare advice, look no further than the back of your Thomson Local directory.

For further information please contact our press office.