The Minister for Health (Ms Gisela Stuart) launched a series of new public access points to NHS Direct at Longthornes Chemist, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, on October 18. By the end of the year, 153 information points which give access to data contained on the NHS Direct website will have opened. A total of 500 are planned. Eighteen of the first 153 kiosks are in pharmacies. A further 55 are located at National Health Service walk-in centres, health centres or hospitals and 16 are in public libraries. Other locations include schools, colleges, universities and seven Kwik Save supermarkets.