3.03pm: The national swine flu help service finally goes live at 3pm today, with millions expected to call the telephone helpline - 0800 1513 100 - and website. Until half an hour ago the Department of Health press office said it was unable to state at what time the service would actually launch, amid reports of serious IT problems, which is unlikely to reassure the government's critics that it has the situation in hand.

The service is intended to take the pressure off the NHS, which has seen growing demand put on GPs, hospital A&E departments and NHS Direct as the H1N1 virus has spread rapidly. But there are fears the service could be open to abuse with people exaggerating their symptoms in an attempt to get Tamiflu amid growing fears about the rising number of deaths in the UK. Others have criticised the use of non-medical staff to run the service, warning people could be misdiagnosed.

3.04pm: Just minutes after the website is launched, it is apparently already overwhelmed with requests for information. Visitors clicking through to the section for patients in England get this message: "The service is currently very busy and cannot deal with your request at this time."

3.27pm: Nearly half an hour after its launch and there is still no access to the service. The website does prompt you for the following info: date of birth; current symptoms; medical history; NHS number or, if you are a foreign visitor, passport number or European Identity Card number; postcode. The Department of Health press release says if you are deemed to have swine flu symptoms you'll be given a unique access number and told where your nearest antiviral collection point is. Then you need to get your "flu friend" to go and pick up the drugs. They must show their own ID as well as yours.

3.29pm: The helpline offers callers two options - general information on swine flu, directing you to call 0800 1513513, and an assessment of your symptoms. There was only a short wait to get through to a member of staff.

3.44pm: Twitterers complain they can't access the website. djwhisky writes: "Pandemic Flu site overloaded already https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/ - would've thought they'd do some load testing b4 launch #fail."

3.48pm: If you've managed to access the website or rung the helpline and spoken to an operator, let us know what advice they gave and whether you were authorised to get antiviral drugs.

4.16pm: The Department of Health press office has been engaged for the past half hour, presumably dealing with queries about why the pandemic flu website has crashed.

4.25pm: Still no access to the website. mkjones tweets: "https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/ is ALREADY down because its "very busy" #fail." While JamesCrowley tweets: "National Pandemic flu service down before it launches??"

4.47pm: The site is still unavailable and the DH media office is still not answering the phone. I'm signing off now. But if you do manage to access the website let us know how you find it - either on here or email me at: david.batty@guardian.co.uk. Good luck!