Health & medicine

Key links

Oxford Reference Online [24/7] - Reference material for medicine
Health Information in Westminster Libraries - Find out what's available in the Westminster Libraries Health Information collections.
NHS Choices - The NHS choices site includes information about the NHS and the 24 hour advice line staffed by nurses, a search box for local services such as doctors and dentists, and a health encyclopedia explaining key medical concepts. This site includes the NHS Direct facility: aimed at helping you to find out what your symptoms may indicate.
British Medical Journal - Features a searchable archive of research articles from 1840 to the current year (upon registration) and BMJ Careers for job advertisements and educational opportunities.
Medline - Long-established database of medical articles and reports from a huge range of international journals. Offers tutorials on how to get the best results.
Boots WebMD - Wide-ranging collection of articles on medical conditions, healthy living and health-related news.

NetDoctor - Comprehensive collection of health resources, including clear and simple guides to conditions, medicines, and common procedures and examinations.
Patient UK - Medical information resource designed for patients. All the links are to UK sites. Includes details of patient support groups.
Contact a Family - A-Z of specific conditions and rare syndromes giving details of support groups. The emphasis is on conditions affecting children.
Merck manual - Popular edition of the long-established guide to medical conditions, detailing signs and symptoms, prognosis, and non-surgical treatments.
Embarrassing Problems - "Straight talking, good advice" - on a variety of hard-to-talk-about medical conditions.

Dr Foster Guides - Patient-centred guides on medical services provided throughout the UK.
General Medical Council - Information about the medical profession in the UK, including The Medical Register - a searchable register of all doctors qualified to practice in the UK, and information about training for the profession. Use NHS Choices to find a GP.
Help the Hospices - The UK charity for hospice care. Includes a directory of hospices.
Dentists Register - A register of qualified dentists in the UK. Use NHS Choices to find a dental surgery.

British National Formulary - (requires free registration) - The official guide to prescription drugs available to doctors in the UK.
electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) - Database maintained by the pharmaceutical industry, giving access to Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs) and Patient Information Leaflets (PILs), covering areas such as dose, indications, contra-indications, side-effects and pharmacological properties.
Vaccine information from the NHS - All you need to know about vaccinations from children, to teenagers, to adults and travel vaccines.

The Alternative Guide - to alternative and complementary healing in London and the South East.
Healthy Pages - Thousands of therapists in dozens of complementary health disciplines from Acupressure to Zero Balancing. Also links to forums, events, workshops, and professional training.
HerbMed - Database of scientific information concerning the modern and traditional uses of herbs in healthcare.
British Register of Complimentary Practitioners and Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council - Both sites provide lists of natural healthcare providers. You can find more information about choosing a complimentary therapy practitioner from the NHS site.

Disabled Living Foundation - News, information and links on all matters related to disability, with special emphasis on adaptive equipment to assist with disability.

Mind - Mind is an organisation that, as well as campaigning for those with mental health issues, provides help and advice, and links to other organisations.
Working for Wellness - WfW was established as part of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. It is described as a "practical resource to support services and people affected by mental illness". It links to support in local areas throughout London including Westminster.
Internet Mental Health - Encyclopedia of mental health information. Information about disorders includes descriptions taken from ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - Information about counselling, including a searchable directory of therapists.

KidsHealth - Extensive resource about childhood health from prenatal to adolescence, provided by medical experts at the American Nemours Foundation, specialising in child health.

Women's Health Information - A guide to women's health issues compiled by an obstetrician, particularly relating to pregnancy and childbirth.

Saga Health - Health information from the company specialising in services for older people.
Care Homes Guide - Guide to 18,000 care homes nationwide with a variety of search options.