KIOSKS are to be set up in Bury to provide free health information at the click of a mouse.

New NHS Direct information points will be based in Blackburn Street Health Centre, Radcliffe, and Bury Walk-in-Centre at Parsons Lane.

They will allow people who are not connected to the Internet to gain immediate access to key advice contained on the NHS Direct On-line website.

Launched last year, the site is described as the first comprehensive gateway to health information in the UK.

Evan Boucher, director of development and planning at Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said: "We are delighted that NHS Direct has given us the opportunity to have touch screen information points.

"The screens will complement the services offered at the NHS walk-in centres and NHS Direct in terms of offering instant access to health information and advice."

Gisela Stuart, Government health minister, said: "Patients are the most important people in the health service and I'm determined that the NHS is shaped around the convenience and concerns of patients.

"The new information points will give the public greater information about how they can look after their own health and about health services.

"The touch-screen terminals are another key element in modernising the NHS.

"NHS Direct has already been a huge success and provided invaluable health care information and advice to more than three million callers since its launch.

"Ours is the only health service in the world to have this sort of integrated access to expert phone advice and information in published form through the telephone and Internet."