MORE than a million homes and businesses in Greater Manchester are now able to get independent health care advice free of charge.

The new NHS Direct self-help guide Not feeling well? is now included in the back of the Thomson Local Directory, the community and lifestyle guide delivered throughout the area.

Published in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS Direct, the self-help guide provides easy to use advice on what to do when faced with common healthcare problems at home or at work.

GP and media doctor Dr Hilary Jones said: "It is great that this sort of information is now readily available."

There is advice on dealing with minor accidents in the home, adult and childhood illnesses, and common health conditions such as backache, earache, fever, flu, and children's rashes. The guide also provides information on what constitutes an emergency and advises what to do in such situations.

More than 117,000 copies of the guide are being distributed in the Bolton area. Further information is available at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk