The strategy also aims to ensure that patients, carers and the public have the information necessary to make decisions about their own treatment and care, and to influence the shape of health services generally. Safe, Sound and Supportive Paper, published in December 1998, setting out the Government's initial proposals to improve mental health services for adults. The appointment is located in the Department of Health. This site provides links to his reports, guidance and other publications. This health advice and information telephone helpline is staffed by fully qualified NHS nurses and is available 24 hours a day every day.
All calls are confidential, charged at local rates and are recorded for patients' safety.
The helpline is nationally available throughout England and Wales. The telephone number for NHS Direct is 0845 4647. The NHS Direct On-line is the internet arm of NHS Direct and was launched in December 1999. It contains an interactive healthcare guide, general information about NHS Direct, information on current health issues and recent health-related announcements, as well as links to other organisations' websites for further more detailed information on specific issues. A competition, launched in January 1999 as part of the Healthy Schools Initiative.