Your NHS is here for you this winter
By Dr Dave Briggs, Executive Director of Outcomes (Medical) at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
The winter months are always more challenging for the NHS but the increase in flu cases this year is putting extra pressure on services.
Regardless of this pressure, the NHS is here for you. There are things you can do to help you and your family stay well this winter:
- You can give yourself the best protection by getting vaccinated against flu if you are eligible. It’s quick and easy to book the vaccine and you can choose a pharmacy location convenient to you. Find out more on our website.
- Many conditions, including flu, can be treated at home. You can find information about self-care on the NHS website. We also have lots of helpful advice for worried parents on our children’s health and wellbeing web page about common illnesses and when to seek treatment for your baby or child. This covers conditions such as chickenpox, asthma, earache, scarlet fever and many more.
- Visit your local pharmacy for less urgent conditions. Local pharmacies can help with the following conditions and may be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine without you needing to see a GP: earache (aged 1 to 17 years); impetigo (aged 1 year and over); infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over); shingles (aged 18 years and over); sinusitis (aged 12 years and over); sore throat (aged 5 years and over); and urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years). Some pharmacies open late (until midnight) and at weekends. Find out more about pharmacies near you on our website.
- You can use your GP’s online system for non-urgent queries and you should get a response that day. This saves time waiting to get through on the phone and frees up the phone line for urgent cases or those who are unable to use the online system.
- You can visit your local Urgent Treatment Centre for sprains, fractures, minor burns and skin infections: Nottingham – The NHS Urgent Treatment Centre (next to the BBC building) is open every day from 7am-7pm. Seaton House, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 4LA Tel: 0115 883 8500. Newark – Newark Hospital is open every day 8am-10.30pm (last patient seen at 9.30pm). Boundary Road, NG24 4DE
- Please try to choose the right service for your needs. If you need medical help now and you’re not sure what to do, visit NHS 111or call 111. NHS 111 can help with a range of urgent care including out of hours GP, urgent dental appointment, urgent mental health support, appointment with an urgent treatment centre or a callback from a nurse.
You can find details about all your NHS services and how to access urgent and non-urgent care on our website.
We hope you stay well this winter.