Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire health and care system remains busy and members of the public are being asked to use services wisely to ensure those people with the greatest need can access care and support.
Residents are being urged to use 111 online who will connect you with a doctor, nurse or other trained healthcare professional if needed. You can search for “NHS 111” or call 111 from any phone. The 111 service can help you to get a GP appointment, direct you to an Urgent Treatment Centre or your nearest Pharmacy.
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire residents can also make use of the NHS App for access to a wide range of services and information, meaning that they don’t necessarily need to call their GP or wait on the telephone for an appointment. Via the app, residents can access their medical records, book and manage appointments, review medication and order repeat prescriptions as well as checking symptoms and tracking their own health.
Flu and Covid-19 are circulating in the community this winter, so residents are reminded to get their jabs if they are eligible – over 50, have certain health conditions, are pregnant, are in long-stay residential care, receive a carers allowance or live with someone who has a weakened immune system. More details about how to get your flu and Covid-19 jab can be found here – Flu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk) and here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/how-to-get-a-coronavirus-vaccine/
Members of the public can also help ease pressures by using their local pharmacy. Pharmacies can help with things like allergies, constipation, headaches, earaches and many other ailments. Please visit your local pharmacy to get advice.
Many pharmacies are open over the Christmas and New Year break, you can find opening hours for your local pharmacy here – https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/nhs-england-and-nhs-improvement-midlands-work/bank-holiday-pharmacy-opening-times/#nottinghamshire
GPs are open as usual up to and including Friday 23 December and then open again as normal on Tuesday 3 January 2023.
Amanda Sullivan, Chief Executive for NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire said: “We know it is difficult for people if they feel ill over the Christmas and New Year break and don’t know where to turn, which is why we are advising people to go to 111 online first or call 111 if they are unsure, as they will be able to advise you or even put you in touch with a medical specialist who can help.
“As we travel to visit friends and family we know minor accidents can happen. Urgent Treatment Centres on both London Road behind the BBC building in Nottingham (open 7am – 7pm daily) and at Newark Hospital (open 9am – 9:30pm daily) can treat sprains and fractures that happen when falling off a bike or if you’re suffering from a burn. Urgent treatment centres are open at least 12 hours a day, every day and offer appointments that can be booked through NHS 111 online. They are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend our emergency departments for, so please consider using them if it is not life threatening.”
Residents can also help by making sure that we have space for our sickest patients in our hospitals by being understanding about family members discharge from hospital. There are some very simple steps families can take to help make the transition home as easy and as comfortable as possible, once a discharge date has been confirmed. These include making sure your loved one has suitable clothing and shoes for the journey home, staying in contact with the hospital ward to find out and check on their expected discharge date and time, helping to organise transport home and making sure the place that they call home is warm and has basic supplies like milk, tea and bread ready for their arrival.
Everyone in the NHS in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire wishes all of our residents a happy festive period and asks that the best possible present to our staff and services is for people to keep themselves safe and well. If you do need help however then please do search for ‘NHS 111’ online or think about talking to your local pharmacist. Please only call 999 if it’s a real emergency. If you’ve got a relative in hospital make sure that you help them get home as easily as possible.
