NHS teams up with Google to ensure people find trusted health information online

The National Health Service has unveiled a new package of measures to ensure people find trusted information online.

In partnership with Google, NHS will provide the public with easy access to information on more than 250 of the most searched for health conditions on the NHS website, through its new "knowledge panels."

These panes will have information about symptoms, treatment and causes. Those who search one of the featured conditions using Google on mobile will see the NHS links and content, sourced directly from the NHS website.

Professor Jonathan Benger, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Digital, said: “Getting the right health information to the public is essential, and syndication from the NHS website means that people can be confident that the information they see meets the highest clinical standards.”

The information from the website has also been syndicated and is freely available for any search engine, social media platform or other organisation to use as part of efforts to ensure the public can easily access NHS content.

Tara Donnelly, chief digital officer at NHSX, said: “One of NHSX’s key missions is to ensure the public are provided with accurate health information so they can be confident they are following official NHS advice.

“By making NHS website content free to use for third party organisations, we will ensure people get NHS advice when they search online rather than some of the many other sources, some with guidance that isn't right for the UK, and some that just aren’t right.”