Symptom Checkers available in the UK

Urgent Health Problem?

Safety first: if you feel you have an urgent problem, then go straight to 111 Online

The 111 Online website will take you through a quick series of questions and decide the best advice for you, which may be:

• sending you an ambulance
• arranging for a doctor or nurse to call you back to understand more about what’s wrong with you
• arranging an appointment with your GP
• asking your GP to call you when they are next open
• suggesting you call your GP
• suggesting the nearest place you can travel to, to get help
• booking you into a pharmacy to get advice

As you can see, 111 Online offers many options. Some are automatic and don’t require waiting for a phone call back, and they are linked to NHS services local to you.

Not so urgent, but troubling – UK Symptom Checkers – NHS.UK and Isabel Health Care

If you are having troubling symptoms for a while, it can be a miserable and worrying experience. Using Google can create massive lists of complicated things to worry about, which are difficult to pick through and sort out, creating more anxiety.

Using one of the free, simple, quality-assured symptom checkers below can give you a short, organized list of potential problems to consider and possibly discuss with your doctor when you are ready.

We believe patients are the experts in their own health, and a better-informed patient will be able to look after themselves better. So don’t be afraid to use these tools to learn about what might be bothering you, it might save you a few visits to your GP, saving both you and them time.

Each of these systems says they are not a substitute for medical advice, not intended to be medical advice and to seek medical advice from your doctor. 

Isabel Health

The Isabel symptom checker is free. We recommend it because it has been developed over nearly 20 years, it is very quick and easy to use:

• you enter your symptoms in plain English, it doesn’t ask lots of questions
• you can enter as many symptoms as you want
• it gives you a list of what might be wrong with you that you can email back to yourself to share with your GP, highlighting any ‘red flag’ problems, and separating common from rarer problems 
• it has been used in some parts of the NHS and on the EMIS Patient Online website [EMIS supply around 50% of the computer systems to GPs across England].
• Isabel, like any symptom checker, can only suggest some conditions based on the symptoms you have entered or help you decide where to get care.

NHS.UK

If you have never visited the Health A-Z on the NHS.UK website, it is worth checking the wide range of health advice available on the site, including:

• symptoms
• illnesses
• online tools and checkers
• where and how to get help locally

The video below shows an example of checking headache symptoms using the NHS.UK website

Suggestions on how to speak to your GP with results from your online symptom-checking

• If this is about symptoms your GP already knows about – consider Asking for a double appointment with your regular GP
  • GP appointments are typically only 10 minutes long.
    • Many GPs surgeries have a rule of ‘one appointment – one problem’, you may need a double appointment – 20 minutes- to review your problems.
    • Make sure your appointment is with a GP, not a less qualified worker, and ideally your regular GP, for continuity. This may mean you need to wait a month or more for your appointment before a double-slot is available with your regular GP.
    • Be prepared to be asked to attend a second follow-up appointment before a way ahead can be agreed, to give your GP time to digest all the information and the outcomes of the consultation.
• Prepare Ahead of the Appointment
  • Make a list of your symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and any patterns you’ve noticed (e.g., “worse at night” or “triggered by certain activities”).
  • Bring printed or digital copies of the output from trusted symptom checkers (e.g., NHS.uk or Patient.info) and any other internet research, ensuring it comes from credible sources.
  • Write down questions or specific concerns you want to address to stay focused during the appointment.
• Start with Appreciation
  • Acknowledge the GP’s efforts so far, even if you’re frustrated. For example:
    “I appreciate the time you’ve taken to discuss my symptoms and help me so far.”
• Express Your Concerns Calmly
  • Clearly explain why you’re still concerned:
    “I understand the current diagnosis, but my symptoms are still affecting me, and I’m worried there might be something else contributing.”
    “I feel like my symptoms haven’t improved as expected, and I’d like to revisit the diagnosis to make sure we’re on the right track.”
• Introduce the Online Information Tactfully
  • Frame the symptom checker or research as a tool to guide the conversation, not a challenge to the GP’s expertise:
    “While waiting for this appointment, I used the NHS Symptom Checker and Patient.info to understand my symptoms better. They suggested a few possibilities, and I hoped we could discuss them to rule them out.”
    “I know online tools can’t replace professional advice, but they raised a couple of questions I’d like to discuss with you.”
• Collaborate on Next Steps
  • Emphasize that you’re looking for a solution together:
    “I value your expertise and want to ensure we’re exploring all possibilities. Do you think additional tests or a referral might be helpful?”
    “Could we discuss a plan to monitor these symptoms or explore other options if things don’t improve?”
• Be Open and Respectful
  • Acknowledge the limitations of online tools and your lack of medical training:
    “I know the symptom checker isn’t perfect, and I trust your expertise. I just wanted to ensure I’m doing everything possible to address this problem.”
• Request a Second Opinion if Needed
  • If the conversation doesn’t lead to a resolution, you can politely ask about other options:
    “I hope you don’t mind, but if my symptoms persist, would it be possible to get a second opinion or referral to a specialist?”

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How to Handle Pushback

If the GP dismisses the online symptom checker or research:

• Reassure them of your respect for their expertise:
  “I understand these tools aren’t always accurate, but they’ve helped me organize my thoughts and concerns to share with you.”
• Refocus the conversation on your symptoms:
  “Regardless of what the symptom checker suggested, I’m still experiencing [describe symptoms], and I’d like to explore what else might be causing this.”

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Example Script for Introducing Symptom Checker Output

“Thank you for seeing me. I’ve been feeling quite concerned because my symptoms haven’t improved. To help prepare for this appointment, I used the NHS Symptom Checker, which mentioned a few potential causes. I know these tools are just a starting point, but I was hoping we could discuss whether any of these might be relevant to my situation or if there are other possibilities to consider.”

By approaching the GP respectfully, focusing on collaboration, and grounding your concerns in credible sources, you’re more likely to have a productive and positive conversation.

Hopefully, you found this helpful information. I use Isabel myself for a long-term nagging problem, a second opinion, or to prepare for a GP appointment. I can’t recommend it enough.

Frequently Asked Health Questions About Long-Term Symptoms