NHS Direct launches text message service

NHS Direct has launched a text messaging service providing details of local health services. The pilot is linked to the already-available information service on Freeview digital TV, which was launched in December. Send a text message to 61121 containing the name of the service required and a postcode and a response will be …

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone know if...

...massage parlours count as a "health service?"

[Steve]

useless

It allows you to access services on the go, but only if you know the postcode... in which case you probably know the area and exactly where to go anyway.

[Anonymous Coward]

MY LFT RM IS TNGLNG

LULZ U R SO PWNED

[Anonymous John]

"as a pilot through our Freeview digital TV service"

Well that excludes 25% of the population then.

[Geoff Mackenzie]

It'll never catch on

MRSA is too awkward to type on a traditional, non-predictive-text phone keypad...

[Graham Marsden]

Make sure you get the number right...

... if your finger slips down one row on the last digit you might just send your details to BBC News 24 (61124!)

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually

MY LFT RM IS TNGLNG. Really!

Who do I see about it, my doctor was't much help?

[Ascylto]

I WNDR ...

... how many nurses could be paid for by this piece of NewLabour trickery.

[MarmiteToast]

Good idea

Like NHSDirect this is actually a fairly good idea.

Postcodes are on road signs (at least in London) so you can always know which area your in. Even when you've lived somewhere for a while you may not know where to go for a specific medical service.

An autoamted system should be cheap as chips (but I bet they got ripped off anyway, government IT procurement etc) and a manned system isn't particularly time consuming either.

[John K]

Automated service

If NHS Direct is anything to go by, it will probably by an automated reply with "Go and see your GP".