Ask Alexa to diagnose your health problems as NHS announces ‘world-first’ partnership with Amazon

Families will be able to “Ask Alexa” to help diagnose their health problems under a new deal between Amazon and the NHS.

Under the partnership, patients – including the elderly and blind – will be able to receive NHS-verified health information through simple voice commands.

Amazon’s algorithm will use information from the NHS website to provide answers to questions such as: ‘Alexa how do I treat a migraine?’ ‘Alexa What are the symptoms of flu?’ ‘Alexa what are the symptoms of chickenpox’.

Health officials said the “world-first collaboration” would empower people to take more control of their own care.