Health811 Service from Ontario Health

Overview
Health811 is a free, secure and confidential service available 24/7 to help people find health services or information or get health advice from a registered nurse.

How the service works
Call 811 or start a chat to find health services or information, or to get health advice from a registered nurse. The person you speak to will ask questions to understand your needs and give you appropriate advice. A registered nurse will not give you a diagnosis or prescribe medication. You may be advised to go to the most appropriate health care facility near you. You may also get connected to other health care professionals who can advise you on next steps.

• The nurse will help you decide whether to:
• handle a problem yourself
• visit your doctor or nurse practitioner
• go to a clinic
• contact a community service
• go to a hospital emergency room

Who can connect with us
Ontarians can connect to ask health-related questions. This service is:

• confidential – you may be asked to provide your health card number, but it is not required
• provided in both English and French, with translation support offered in other languages
• free for all Ontarians

What you can ask
You can contact us when you have health-related questions or concerns about:

• illness or injury that may need medical care
• illnesses that don’t go away or keep coming back
• support available to help you quit smoking
• food and healthy eating (you will be connected to a registered dietitian)
• teen health and issues
• depression, suicide or other mental health concerns
• breastfeeding (you will be connected to a lactation consultant)
• refugee health support
• medical assistance in dying support

How the website helps you care for yourself
It can be hard to know when to seek medical help and when it’s safe to care for yourself or loved ones at home. This website provides:

• a conversational symptom checker that asks you questions about symptoms and suggests the most suitable care options for your situation.
• a medical library stocked with facts about common medical conditions, their causes, treatment and prevention. Everything you will learn through the medical library is based on clinical experience and the latest research.
• a searchable directory of health care services, doctors, nurse practitioners, and specialists, including all the details you need to know to self-refer, such as their contact information and location.
• a search engine that guides you to information on health care websites that have been vetted and approved for use within Ontario.
• a help centre to get tips on how to get the most from Health811.