Online searches for flu up tenfold during winter

The number of people looking up flu information on the NHS website increased tenfold compared to last year, new figures reveal.

Figures from NHS Choices show the site www.nhs.uk was clicked onto than 20 million times during winter, and that there were 50,000 searches for flu information compared to just 3,800 in 2009.

The figures also reveal that apart from flu, pneumonia, diabetes and pregnancy were among the most popular pages on the site. The busiest single day for the site was 13 December when there were 300,000 visits.

Health Minister Simon Burns said: “NHS Choices has been able to provide timely and accurate information about flu and other conditions during winter months.

"The internet is a great resource for health-related information as long as people can use sources they can trust. Those people who log onto NHS Choices are often in a better position to use health services appropriately.”