EmailNHS Direct hopes that the new platform will allow more topics to be developed and enhance existing tools to give patients a more "advanced personalised experience".
The tool, which is being developed by a consortium led by InferMed, will include links to other medical websites and forums. Any online assessments that are completed by patients will be syndicated to NHS Choices, Directgov and other consumer health sites.
NHS Direct told SmartHealthcare.com that it recognises it is "predominantly seen as a telephone service" but it wants "to achieve a multi-channel approach to remote healthcare". Its aim is to give people the option of accessing its web services where appropriate and enable them to move seamlessly from online to the telephone service.
A spokesperson for NHS Direct said: "This is part of ongoing work to improve our services available via digital channels as well as the telephone. We already have a range of online services but the ongoing aim is to enhance the existing tools available to improve the patient's experience. This will include using video and web chat technology.
"We also aim to create a range of new assessment tools on specific symptom topics, over 40 in total. These online assessments will mirror our telephone service, providing patients with a true multi channel experience."
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