Patients click for cough clinic

An online "cough clinic" is being pioneered by scientists at the University of Hull.

Experts at the university claim the clinic, which aims to cut down GP waiting times, is the world's first interactive self-diagnosis website.

Patients using the service go online, answer a questionnaire and are then sent a suggested diagnosis and information about treatments.

The university said more than 10,000 people had signed up to the website.

Professor Alyn Morice, who created the cough clinic, said: "In a digital era when medical information is at our fingertips, there is a growing trend for people to conduct research via the internet and try and diagnose themselves before seeing the doctor.

"This process is not always sound, but since this project has been devised by medical experts, it provides a credible approach to online diagnosis."

The team is now working on other websites to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome and heartburn.