People are in Leicestershire are to be offered an app enabling them to find the right health services in a hurry, it has been announced.
The app, NHS Now, has been developed by senior officers of the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group.
It uses GPS technology to identify the location of the user and directs them towards the nearest appropriate health service, according to its developers.
Its database includes pharmacies, GPs, urgent care centres, hospital A&E and dentists.
It also gives users access to NHS self-care web-sites and the option to phone 999 or 111.
Co-designer Tim Sacks, CCG chief operating officer, said: “There are a whole range of local NHS services – new and not so new – all designed to meet local patients’ needs. If an illness or injury is not a real emergency, other local health services may be able to get patients the right help and care more conveniently and more quickly than 999 or A&E.
"The free ‘NHS Now’ App helps them choose and find the nearest local services available to them at any time of the day or night.
“They get live opening times and directions to each local NHS service. For each type of service, they can ask to see either all locations or those open for service at the specific time they are using the App.
“This winter, the advice from the NHS is that we all need to stay well. Finding the right advice or service early can help. NHS Now enables local patients to do precisely that."
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