Working out what is wrong with you used to be solely the doctor's job. Now they may well be helped by computer diagnostic tools known as "expert systems". These systems are databases of known illnesses and symtoms. By requesting answers to a series of questions about the patient, they can work out what could be wrong.
The NHS Direct website includes one of these systems for the public to use.
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NHS Direct self-help guide
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Other computer diagnostic tools are able to perform repeated tests without getting bored - this is very useful for breast cancer screening, for example, where many X-rays must be analysed. Computer-based analysis is also cheaper, which means hospitals can screen more people and hopefully prevent more serious illness.
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