More than 30 million users visited the NHS 111 online service between 26 February and 11 August, the latest figures show.
At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, the service was being accessed more than 950,000 times a day – 95 times higher than it normally would be – according to NHS Digital’s figures.
The NHS body said the dramatic increase in users was helping to ‘relieve the burden’ on frontline NHS services and ensure ‘vast numbers of people get the correct advice for their condition’.
Over six million of these users completed an online assessment for Covid-19 and received health advice based on the symptoms and travel history they reported, NHS Digital said.
Ben Davison, director of citizen health tech at NHS Digital, said the figures show how important the use of digital tools is in supplying health information to the public during the pandemic.
He added: ‘This is a fluid and fast-changing situation and we are working closely with NHSX, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and other organisations across the system to develop robust and resilient solutions to a range of new issues.’
