Your guide to Choose well
this winter
Choose well this winter
A national NHS information and
education campaign
Advice and guidance on common
winter complaints
The most convenient and effective
care for you and your family
Help the NHS
Why is this important to NHS?
Impact of cold weather on vulnerable
people
Free up time of nurses and doctors
Reduce pressure on already busy
A&E, emergency and 999 teams
Reduce pressure on GP and other
teams who support vulnerable
people
Why is this important to you?
•
-
•
•
-
Convenience:
get the right treatment first time
reduce waiting
information and advice 24 hours a day,
seven days a week
Cost:
some basic low cost essentials for your
medicine cabinet
Access to emergency services when
you need them:
less delays
NHS teams have more time
Most common winter complaints
• Coughs and colds
• Sore throats
• Flu
• Norovirus
• General aches and pains
So which service when?
Self Care
On-line and NHS Direct
High Street Pharmacy
Your GP Practice
Urgent Care Centre, Walk-in-Centre,
Minor Injuries Unit
A&E, Emergency Department, 999
So which service when?
Self Care
Best option for common
complaints such as:
Why?
•Coughs, colds, sore-throats
•Upset stomachs
•Will get better themselves
without medical help
•General aches and pains
•Can’t be treated with anti-biotics
•Flu
Information and advice
•Cost and convenience
•NHS Winter Health leaflet
•NHS Choices www.nhs.uk
So which service when?
NHS Choices and NHS Direct
Best option for:
Why?
•Checking symptoms (not just
common winter complaints)
•Access 24 hours a day, seven
days a week
•Advice on self-care options
•Expert advice and information
•Local service finder
•How long symptoms will last
•NHS Direct 0845 46 47
•Interactive First Aid guide
•NHS Choices www.nhs.uk
So which service when?
High Street Pharmacy
Best option for:
Why?
•Face-to-face advice and
information
•Local high street expert
•Common winter health
complaints
•Advice and support for on-going
health complaints
•Healthy Living services
•Convenience
•No appointment needed
•Private consultation rooms
available
•Text ‘pharmacy’ to 64746 to
receive three free texts with
details of your nearest
pharmacies
•www.nhs.uk – service finder
So which service when?
Your GP Practice
Best option for:
Why?
•An illness or injury that won’t go
away or is getting worse
•Experts on a range of health
conditions
•Concerns about mental health
and sexual health
•Access to other local NHS services
an prescriptions if needed
•Help with health life-style e.g.
smoking cessation, weight-loss
•On-going treatment and support for
long term conditions
•An out-of-hours service at
weekends and evenings
Not registered with a GP?
•Go to NHS Choices www.nhs.uk –
and use the service finder to find
your nearest GP practice or text
‘Doctor’ to 64746
So which service when?
Urgent Care Centre, Walk-in-Centre,
Minor Injuries Unit
Best option for:
Why?
Something that needs urgent
attention but isn’t a lifethreatening emergency e.g
infections, rashes, fractures and
lacerations, emergency
contraception and advice,
stomach upsets, cuts, bruises,
burns and strains
•Open seven days a week, although
opening hours vary
•No appointment needed
•Access to services such as X-Rays
and stitches
•Can prescribe and refer you to other
services if needed
•Go to NHS Choices www.nhs.uk –
and use the service finder to find
your service or text ‘Walk’ to 64746
So which service when?
A&E, Emergency Department, 999
Best option for:
Why?
Life-threatening and serious
emergencies, such as:
•No appointment needed but may
wait for up to four hours
•serious accidents
•serious burns
•breathing problems
•heart-attacks
•strokes
•Access to trauma and major
trauma services
•Can prescribe and refer you to
other services if needed
Your Local Services
[Use this slide to highlight
specific local services – delete
bands if appropriate]
Self Care
On-line and NHS Direct
High Street Pharmacy
Your GP Practice
Urgent Care Centre, Walk-in-Centre,
Minor Injuries Unit
A&E, Emergency Department, 999
Some medicine cabinet
essentials for this winter
• Honey and lemon – for sore
throats and coughs
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen –
pain-relief and to bring down
temperature
• Thermometer – normal
temperature for an adult is 37
degrees Celsius; a fever in an
adult is 38 degrees and above
and children over five 37.5
degrees
• Re-hydration mixtures and
indigestion remedies – to help
with an upset stomach
Important
ALWAYS read instructions for any
medicine
NEVER take more than the
recommended dose
TALK to your high-street pharmacist
if you need advice
CALL your GP if symptoms suddenly
get worse or condition suddenly
deteriorates
Remember antibiotics will not cure a
cold, flu or upset stomach
Prevention is better than cure!
• Good respiratory and hand hygiene
prevents the spread of germs
• Clean hard surfaces
• Restrict visits to vulnerable friends,
neighbours and relatives until you
have been symptom free for at
least three days
• Have the flu jab if you are a carer
or in an at risk groups
Other advice and support
• www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories
• Are you a carer? www.rallyroundme.com