Our Guide to External Web Sites

Always look for a balanced view - don't just use one site, check out information on others too.

Remember that anyone can write anything on the internet, it doesn't neccesarily mean that is is true, neither does this mean that this information is up to date. The information you are given could be out of date and therefore, dangerous in some cases. Make sure the information you read is fully up to date.

Make sure that the web sites author, or the content is written by a professional and that their qualifications are listed.

Check the site for references - Where did this information come from?

Look for advertising. If the information you are reading is about headaches and there are adverts trying to sell you aspirin, beware! It could be that the site is just trying to raise their sales.

Sites outside the UK may not present the same information that is used here. What might happen in one country is something that might not be avalialble or reccomended here.

Avoid online consultations unless you know personally who you are consulting with. Someone online does not know your personal history whereas your doctor does. Also, you probably won't have any confidentiality or privacy over the internet.

Unless the site is clearly sponsored or supervised by a reliable source, it should not be trusted