Don’t swallow up your NHS - use it wisely this winter

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Winter illnesses such as colds and coughs, sore throats, and upset stomachs can easily be treated at home with medicines available at low cost from your local pharmacy - no GP appointment or prescription required.

Winter self-care essentials include:

• pain relief (paracetamol)
• cough and sore throat remedies
• first aid kit
• upset stomach treatment
• rehydration treatment
• heartburn and indigestion treatment

Having these winter essentials at hand will not only save you time and help you to feel better quicker, but help save the NHS much needed resources. 

Your local pharmacist can also offer you advice and guidance on the best treatment for you – no appointment needed.  Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets with many open evenings and weekends. Click https://beta.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy/ to find a pharmacy near you. 

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Use antibiotics on your doctor's advice

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Antibiotics are essential to treat serious bacterial infections, but they are frequently being used to treat illnesses such as coughs, earache and sore throats that can get better by themselves. Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. That means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them.

Despite the risks of antibiotic resistance, research shows that 38% of people still expect an antibiotic from a doctor’s surgery, NHS walk-in centre or ‘GP out of hours’ service when they visited with a cough, flu or a throat, ear, sinus or chest infection in 2017. 

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Now’s the time to get your free flu jab! 

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Local residents in at risk groups are being reminded to get their free flu jab.  Adults over 65; those with long term health conditions; children aged two to eight; carers and pregnant women may all be eligible.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people see their GP and tens of thousands are hospitalised because of flu.  Symptoms of flu can be very unpleasant and last for several weeks. It can lead to more serious complications like middle ear infections in children, and pneumonia or bronchitis for those with underlying health conditions, and in some cases it can be fatal.  

Flu is a highly contagious illness that spreads rapidly through the population.  It can cause serious complications for at risk groups, such as the elderly, expectant mothers and people with long term health conditions.

Although it’s not possible to know which strains of flu will circulate each winter, the flu vaccination is still the best protection against an unpredictable virus which can cause severe illness and deaths amongst vulnerable groups.

Vaccines are available between October 2018 and March 2019, so contact your GP or pharmacy now – it’s free because you need it. 

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Useful Documents and Leaflets

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Stay Well This Winter.pdf

Treat Yourself Better With Pharmacist Advice.pdf

Use your NHS Wisely this winter.pdf

Home Care is Best.pdf

When Should I Worry.pdf

When Will I Feel Better.pdf