Pre-Christmas Media pack
Date of issue 17/12/2015
This document is a guide to help you promote key winter messages over the Festive period. It
includes some images, text for website, pharmacy opening times and some suggested tweets etc. I
hope it’s useful. Most of you should have received all the posters, guide to local health services and
Winter care leaflets by now – if you haven’t then please let me know and I’ll arrange for them to be
delivered asap.
Images attached to email
NHS National Stay Well This Winter campaign (prescription)
NHS National Stay Well This Winter campaign logo (stay-well-logo)
Stay Well header (stay-well2)
Choose well image (choose-well)
Tweets/ Facebook posts
Order repeat prescriptions tweets
 Along with the presents, turkey & tinsel, make sure you have enough medicine to see you
through Christmas #staywell
 Order repeat prescriptions at least a week in advance so that Christmas can be enjoyed in
good health.
 Don’t let a lack of repeat medicine spoil your Christmas. Contact your Practice today.
 Make sure you order your repeat prescription early in time for Christmas.
 Order your essential medicines in time for the holidays, that means one less thing to worry
about #StayWellThisWinter
Stay Well this Winter campaign
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Your local pharmacist can offer you free health advice at any time and no appointment is
necessary. #StayWell www.nhs.nuk/staywell
Some pharmacies offer reduced opening hours over Xmas, plan ahead, get your
prescriptions now #StayWell http://ow.ly/VLeYr
If you need a pharmacy over the Xmas period you can look on http://ow.ly/VLfUB or
http://ow.ly/VLfZr #StayWell
Make sure your pharmacist is the first point of call when you feel unwell this winter
#staywellthiswinter
Although most people will catch a cold during the winter months you can help stop the
spread of germs. Find out more www.nhs.uk/staywell #staywell #selfcare
Most pharmacies have a consultation room so you can discuss your health concerns
privately and comfortably #staywell
#NHS111 is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help advise if you fall ill this winter
#staywell
News stories/ info for your website
Remember to order repeat prescriptions in time for Christmas
Don’t leave it too late to order and collect repeat prescriptions this Christmas. We have limited
opening hours during the Christmas holidays and the majority of pharmacies will also be closed on
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. (you can insert opening hours here – see poster)
Running out of daily medication over the festive period could have serious consequences for
patients who rely on them to control heart and breathing problems.
The busy festive period can make it difficult to remember the important, everyday things such as
ordering repeat prescriptions. This is especially important, as those with long term conditions rely on
their prescribed medication to help them keep their condition under control. It’s important to order
repeat prescriptions at least a week in advance so that the festive season can be enjoyed in good
health.
Patients can now order repeat prescriptions online by signing up to Patient Online, a national
initiative where patients can also make GP appointments online. Those wishing to find out more
should ask for registration forms at their GP practice.
Check your medicine cabinet
Double check you are prepared for the holiday period and have sufficient over-the-counter remedies
to manage minor illnesses and injuries at home. Local pharmacies can provide useful advice and
deal with minor ailments without people having to see their GP about winter bugs like coughs, colds,
sore throats, stomach upsets and flu.
For more information on what you can do to stay well visit www.nhs.uk/staywell
What to do if you feel unwell over Christmas and need medical help
Pharmacies
Common ailments such as colds, sore throats and coughs can often be effectively treated at home.
Pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge in how to treat these types of illness and a local pharmacy
may help. It is also important to make sure your medicine cabinet at home is well stocked and
contains sufficient over-the-counter medicines to treat minor ailments.
Nottingham Urgent Care Centre
Seaton House, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 4LA
This Urgent Care centre is open every day of the year from 7am to 9pm. Just walk in, no
appointment is needed. The centre is near the BBC centre on the London Road island.
The centre will offer assessment and treatment for health conditions that are urgent but non-life
threatening such as: Minor burns and scalds Minor head injury with no loss of consciousness Skin
infections and rashes Suspected broken bones, sprains and strains (X-ray will be available on-site)
Eye infections and minor eye injuries
NHS 111
If you need advice or medical treatment quickly, then you should call NHS 111, which is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. By calling NHS 111 you will be assessed, given advice and directed
straightaway to the local service that can best meet your needs. An out of hours GP service is
available for illnesses and injuries that cannot wait until we reopen after Christmas.
Emergency Department
Your local A&E department is at the Queens Medical Centre on Derby Road in the City.
A&E is a vital and busy service, which should only be used in a medical emergency – usually defined
as a critical or life threatening situation. If you or somebody close to you needs emergency
treatment you should call 999 straight away. A medical emergency might include severe chest pain,
stroke or serious accident.
Christmas pharmacy opening hours
Patients can save time in the waiting room by visiting their pharmacist for quick, confidential advice
on a range of common illnesses.
Your local pharmacy can help you with more than you might think. Pharmacists offer expert,
confidential advice and treatment for many minor health problems.
Pharmacy opening hours in Nottinghamshire can be found on the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk
along with information on walk-in centres, urgent care centres or minor injuries units. Patients can
type in their postcode on the website to find their nearest services. (add poster with opening times)
Take simple steps to avoid falls this winter
Falls are a common, but often overlooked, cause of injury. Around one in three adults over 65 who
live at home will have at least one fall a year. And icy weather can make going outside even more
hazardous.
As well as bad weather other factors can cause a fall including environmental hazards, an underlying
medical condition, strength, balance and decline in vision. Prescription medicines can also be a risk
factor. Falls can lead to fractures, and in some cases serious illness or even death, and although
everyone is at risk, that risk does increase in the elderly.
There are some simple measures people can take to prevent falls:
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Try not to go outside when the weather is icy
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Remove clutter and secure trailing wires and loose carpets
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Use non-slip mats and rugs
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Do not walking on slippery floors in sock or tights
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Wear proper fitting shoes with a good grip.
Regular strength and balance exercise also minimises the chance of falling, such as swimming,
gardening and tai chi.
For more information: www.nhs.uk/conditions/Falls/Pages/Introduction.aspx