The British Medical Journal officially launched their new health website for the public, BestTreatments.co.uk, on 9 May. The site is a patient's version of Clinical Evidence, the resource that doctors use for information and the latest evidence-based research, and is currently the only independent, evidence-based information resource available to patients.

The information on BestTreatments.co.uk is easy to read and jargon-free and the site aims to state clearly which treatments do and don't work, and which require more research, for any given condition. 'Crucially BestTreatments.co.uk is impartial – not sponsored by drug companies for instance – so patients know they are getting impartial advice on which treatments work and which don't,' said Cherill Hicks, BestTreatments.co.uk UK Editor. The site also tackles questions such as whether over the counter hayfever remedies are worth the money, and whether it is worth a child having an operation for grommets to cure ear infections.

The hope is that the site will help GPs and their patients to share decision making about care. Dr Brian Fisher, a GP from Lewisham, London, said that patients want more information about their conditions and treatments, but do not usually receive enough. 'Patients want to be involved in decision making around their care,' he said. 'When patients are offered information, outcomes are often better and they may use the NHS less.'

The website will be updated with the latest information around once a month, with every condition updated at least once a year. Conditions such as impacted wisdom teeth and burning mouth syndrome are already covered on the site and more oral health information may be included as the site develops. For more information, visit the site at www.besttreatments.co.uk.