On-the-spot help is now available for people unsure where to turn for health advice.

A touch-screen point, with information on more than 500 medical conditions and more than 2,000 support groups, with links to local health services, has been installed at Ling House Medical Centre, in Keighley.

The service -- set up by the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) -- can also be accessed by logging on to www.palshealth.info.

PALS provides confidential support and helps guide patients, relatives and carers through different NHS services to sort out any concerns they may have about their care.

During its first year of operation, advisors dealt with 1,500 issues.

Samantha Cording, a PALS advisor for Airedale, said: "The NHS can be a complex organisation and people often need to turn to someone for on-the-spot help.

"This new touch screen advice service is one of four throughout the Bradford district.

"It will help us to reach out to even more residents across all age groups and allow us to sort out any problems as quickly as possible."

A new text line has also been set up to make it easier for young people and those with hearing problems to reach PALS advisors on 07976 084704.

Alternatively PALS can be contacted by phone on 01274 322777, by e-mail at pals@bradford.nhs.uk or by writing to Patient Advice and Liaison Service, FREEPOST, NEA 13056, Bradford BD13 1BR.