NHS Digital have introduced improvements to their NHS Service Finder online search tool.

NHS Service Finder is a free tool that provides access to information from the Directory of Services (DoS) and the NHS website. It is not accessible by the public, but it does allow pharmacy teams and other healthcare professionals to search for service information quickly, allowing a patient to be signposted to the most appropriate service to meet their needs.

It also enables pharmacy teams to look-up non-public telephone numbers (where available) for listed services, such as general practices.

What is new in NHS Service Finder?

The changes include:

• fewer steps are required to conduct your searches;
• the search results list has been restyled;
• the service details have been restyled so that they are easier to navigate and more consistent; and
• there is now the ability to filter search results by type and opening hours.

Following the changes, searches are estimated to be 30% quicker.

PSNC has been requesting such changes and will continue to provide input to the NHS Service Finder team based on contractor feedback. You can feed back to PSNC’s IT lead about any further improvements you would like to see by emailing it@psnc.org.uk.

How are community pharmacy teams using NHS Service Finder?

Commenting on her use of NHS Service Finder, Anjlee, a community pharmacist from Farlington said:

“I find it to be a very useful reference tool especially for contacting a healthcare professional directly, with the non-public numbers, if I have any queries.

For example a few days ago I had a Community Pharmacist Consultation Service referral for minor illness that I felt needed review by the patient’s GP, due to some red flag symptoms. I was able to quickly locate the patient’s surgery details using NHS Service Finder and obtain details of the direct line so I could refer the patient and have them booked in for a review. It gave the patient the reassurance that they needed.

I have also found the tool very useful to signpost patients to services as well. And it’s so handy that you can email them the service information with contact number, opening times and it has an in-built map for directions. And they have the most up to date contact info which is very useful.”

Further information

PSNC NHS Service Finder factsheet

PSNC’s NHS Service Finder webpage

Video highlighting benefits of NHS Service Finder