Over half of people have difficulty understanding how the Irish health service works and how local health facilities are organised, so the HSE has officially launched a new information service with the aim of helping anyone with questions they may have.

HSELive is a new multi-channel public information service that is available six days a week.

Previously, anyone with questions had to telephone an information line, however over the last 18 months, the HSELive team has been transitioning to a multi-platform service, which still includes a phone line, but also a live chat facility on the website, email and Twitter.

The live chat facility has been trialed since last November and in that time, over 27,000 people have used it, with the vast majority of these saying they were satisfied with the response they received.

According to the HSE, HSELive offers a ‘customer-focused and responsive service letting people know where to go and what to do in order to get the services they need for themselves and their families'.

It can answer questions about health services, entitlements and how to access public health and social care services in your area.

"We know that navigating a complex health system, either for yourself or for a loved one, is not always easy for people. Improving access to health services is a key focus for us and the importance of information provision in terms of supporting access to health services cannot be underestimated," commented HSE director general, Tony O'Brien.

According to Kirsten Connolly, deputy director of communications and lead on the HSELive Transformation Project, HSELive was developed ‘in response to an identified public need for better information about where to go and what to do when it comes to accessing health services'.

"We want to ensure that people know where to go and what to do in order to get the support they need for themselves and for their families. The HSELive team has a wealth of knowledge and is ready to be your guide to navigating the health service on the phone or online, whichever works best for you," she said.

The five most common queries received by HSELive are in relation to:
1. Medical cards
2. European health insurance card
3. Drug payment scheme
4. Long-Term Illness scheme
5. Dental services.

HSELive is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays.

It can be contacted by:
-Telephone - call 1850 24 1850 from a landline or 041 6850300 from a mobile
-Live chat on www.hse.ie. Click on the chat icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen
-Twitter - Tweet on @HSELive
-Email hselive@hse.ie

Please note, HSELive does not offer clinical or medical advice. For any queries relating to medical issues, contact a health professional, such as your GP, or in an emergency, dial 999.