Yukon residents can now get immediate health care advice over the telephone with a free "dial-a-nurse" service connecting them with a nurse in British Columbia.

Callers will be "connected to advice on whether they can treat their symptoms at home or should see a physician," says Health Minister Brad Cathers.

The 160 on-call nurses have been specially trained to handle calls from the Yukon. That means they are aware of specific local conditions such as that there are no roads out of Old Crow and no pharmacies outside Whitehorse.

The service, available by dialing 811, gives advice in dozens of languages. It is not meant for emergencies, and callers are redirected to 911 in cases of chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding.

The Yukon government will pay $100,000 for the first year of service, after which B.C. Health will charge the government 82 cents a minute.