Wellbeing on the web 1: finding the best links
Wellbeing on the web 2: consultations





Dipex Award-winning site revolving around personal experiences of health, illness and healthcare. Read, watch or listen to stories by patients and also find other sources of support.







Kidney Patient’s Guide Noteworthy for its innovative design, animations explaining kidney treatments, and personal accounts of the emotional, social and financial implications of kidney failure.







Patient Opinion An independently run outlet where NHS patients can share their good and bad experiences with potential patients. The idea is to prompt hospitals to change practices.







Going for a A website from the Royal College of Radiologists, explaining scanning and radiotherapy techniques to patients. Sounds dull? Try it. Its virtual hospital departments are entertaining and informative.







UK Prostate Link Innovative gateway to quality-assessed information about prostate cancer, overseen by the Prostate Cancer Charity, the Department of Health and other charities and professionals.







FOOD WEBSITES: TOP FIVE

Tesco diets Sacrilegious to say, but the part of Tesco’s healthy-living website devoted to losing weight while eating is recommended. With input from nutritionists, it tailors diets according to needs and lifestyles.





British Nutrition Foundation Detailed, science-based information about healthy eating, but bear in mind that the foundation has close links with the food industry, so don’t expect much negative stuff.



Food Standards Agency Sound information on food safety, nutrition and healthy eating from the Government’s watchdog. Look at its healthy-eating website, eatwell.gov.uk.







Eat the Seasons Excellent guide to buying local food in season, with recipes. It was set up three years by Nick Gitsham, a health service worker, in his spare time, because of his interest in seasonal food.







Farma Website of a co-operative of farmers and farmers’ markets, providing easy-to-access information about seasonal produce and farmers’ shops and markets close to you.



MENTAL HEALTH WEBSITES: TOP FOUR

MDF the Bipolar Association This reworked website for what used to be the Manic Depression Fellowship is informative, supportive and uncluttered.







Mind It may not be as attractive-looking as other mental health websites, but the information section is wide ranging, providing people with advice on support, as well as the facts about their condition.







Living Life to the Full Innovative website from Glasgow University that provides cognitive behavioural therapy online, so giving people skills for coping with life and dealing with problematic behaviour patterns.







Your Amazing Brain Test yourself with games, illusions and challenges in this fascinating website supported by the Wellcome Trust.







CHILD HEALTH WEBSITES: TOP THREE

Children First Interactive guide to life and health for children and young people, produced with the expertise of Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.







Royal College of Psychiatrists A useful range of leaflets can be downloaded by parents, teachers and young people, covering issues from dealing with tantrums and sleep problems to ADHD and schizophrenia.







Baby Centre This covers pregnancy, babyhood and the toddler years, with helpful information, messageboards where parents can exchange advice, and opportunities to pose questions online to pregnancy and baby experts.



TEENAGE HEALTH WEBSITES: TOP THREE

TheSite.org A site that aims to support young people in making decisions on sex, health, drink and drugs. Run by the charity YouthNetUK.







Jimmyteenstv.com A fun website where young people can share their experiences of cancer in weird and creative ways.







Youth Health Talk A collection of interviews with young people about their experiences of health and illness.





SEX/RELATIONSHIPS WEBSITES: TOP TWO

Good vibrations Not only sex information and advice, but toys, including vibrators, dildos, books and videos.



Relate Packed with information about relationships and where to go for help (not just Relate counsellors). It’s surprisingly lively, and there is even a personality profiler, but you do have to pay for it.



FITNESS/SPORTS INJURY WEBSITES: TOP TWO

Sports injury clinic Run by a private company, this provides comprehensive sports injury information and guidance on what the source of your aches and pains may be.

BBC Sorry, but in the absence of any other good, simple, well-presented information on keeping fit on the web, Auntie comes up trumps again.

CYNICS’ WEBSITES: TOP FOUR

Quackwatch Witness the systematic destruction of some of the outrageous claims that are made by some alternative practitioners.



NHS Exposed Investigative website allegedly exposing dozens of abuses to staff and patients, and the cover-up campaigns to suppress the truth.



NHS Blog Doctor A doctor tells it how it really, really is.

The Skeptic’s Dictionary The alternative health section is informative, but very unconvincing.

TOP FIRST-AID WEBSITE

South East Coast Ambulance Service It’s a hell of a url, but it’s a very innovative idea. Audio first-aid advice you can download to your iPod or phone.

TOP GENERAL WEBSITE

The Times of course . . .

THE EXPERTS

Websites suggested by:
Simon Crompton, medical editor, Body&Soul
Martyn Lobley, GP
Dr Jane Collins
Gabby Logan, sports commentator
Amanda Ursell, nutritionist
Suzi Godson, Body&Soul sex columnist
Dozens of members of the Patient Information Forum, an organisation that promotes good patient information, who put forward their nominations to Body&Soul

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