The 24-hour medical advice and information service NHS Direct is now available in Wiltshire.

The service, which was launched in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Avon on Monday, offers advice and information covering all aspects of health, illness and health services.

A dedicated team of 54 nurses, all with at least five years experience, and 15 health information advisers can be contacted at NHS Direct by calling (0845 )46 47.

The service aims to relieve pressure from frontline staff working within the National Health Service.

Callers are given advice on the best way of tackling health problems. The service can also direct callers to the most appropriate level of care available in treating an illness.

This could be to stay at home and what measures to take at home, when to contact a GP and whether to go to a hospital casualty department.

John Dale, the general manager of the local NHS Direct service, said: "All members of the public will be able to contact a nurse 24 hours a day and receive fast advice and reassurance on the best way to tackle a health problem.

"Independent studies have shown that callers to NHS Direct are reporting a satisfaction rating of 97 per cent and it is obviously a popular service elsewhere, an experience which we hope will be mirrored in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire."

Mr Dale said the service is particularly keen to target groups who are often reluctant to use advice lines, such as the elderly, young men and people whose first language is not English.

"These are the groups that often delay visiting a doctor or pharmacist and exacerbate their medical condition," he said.

"People can worry an awful lot about a health issue but be reluctant to seek face to face advice. Our service is confidential and inexpensive, the cost of a local call.

"Callers can remain anonymous if they wish and our language line also provides swift access to an interpreter."

Wiltshire Health Authority's chief executive Jeremy Hallett said the service was value for money.

He said: "It is money well spent if we can help people look after themselves better, save unnecessary worry and relieve pressure on other services."

Wiltshire Health Authority board member and local GP Dr Huw Williams said: "GPs often see people who should be heading straight to casualty or who should have stayed in bed with a hot drink.

"We also have patients who are reluctant to call the doctor or to ask advice about what could be a serious problem.

"Anything that enables patients to access the NHS in the best way for them and which helps allay their worries has to be an excellent addition to services on offer."

The local NHS Direct service now brings the total across the country to 22 and is a Government initiative to modernise the NHS.

The local service is based in a call centre on the M4/MS interchange at Almondsbury Business Park near Bristol.