Self Care

There are some things you can do to help yourself stay well in winter. This includes getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

It’s important to get your winter flu and COVID-19 vaccinations if you’re eligible. Getting vaccinated every year will top up your protection and reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms.

Find out more on our Vaccinations page.

Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy. 

There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.

Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Sun safety tips

Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.

Make sure you:

• spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• never burn
• cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
• take extra care with children
• use at least factor 30 sunscreen

More information and advice at Sunscreen and sun safety – NHS.

Whilst you’re out, why not also think about stocking up on medicine cabinet essentials to make sure you’re prepared to self-care?

People often turn up at hospitals with minor illnesses and injuries that could often be better treated more quickly elsewhere, or at home.

Your local pharmacist can offer you free health advice at any time, and no appointment is necessary. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses and answer questions about prescribed and over the counter medicines.

All year round, pharmacists can also advise on healthy eating, obesity and giving up smoking and have private areas where you can talk in confidence.

Check your medicine cabinet and make sure you have the following basics which can all be bought from your local pharmacy or supermarket:

• Painkillers
• Cold and flu remedies
• Anti-diarrhoea medicine
• Oral rehydration salts
• Indigestion remedies
• Plasters
• Bandages
• A thermometer
• Tissues

If you are already taking other medication, check first with your pharmacist to make sure the medicines are right for you.

Check any medicines you already have to make sure they are still okay to use. If any medicines are past their use-by date, don’t take them and return them to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.

By being prepared to self-care and stocking up on medicine cabinet essentials which can readily be bought from your local pharmacy and supermarket, a lot of people could treat minor illnesses at home, avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor.

Online advice on managing common ailments can be found at www.nhs.uk.

Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from catching viruses and help reduce the pressures on healthcare services.

Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects and can help stop the spread of common winter infections. Hand washing is particularly important when you’re visiting someone in hospital or another healthcare setting.

If you do not have immediate access to soap and water, then use alcohol-based hand sanitiser. For more information go to: www.nhs.uk/handwashing.

You can get help and advice from:

• A pharmacy – pharmacies can give treatment and advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor
• Your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to
• NHS 111 – go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do
• Download the NHS App – view your GP health record, book and manage appointments, order repeat prescriptions and use NHS 111.

Let’s come together and look out for each other, there are plenty of simple, practical things we can do to help each other.

Repeat prescriptions – make sure they get their repeat prescriptions. For those with long-term health problems, taking daily medication is an important part of their treatment, and many are at risk of suffering serious complications, illnesses or hospital stays if medical supplies run out.

If your elderly relative or friend becomes unwell over a bank holiday period or need medical advice when your GP surgery is closed, please Think pharmacy first. GP out-of-hours services can also be accessed through NHS 111 online: Get help for your symptoms – NHS 111 or by calling NHS 111 free of charge.

Make sure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations – For more information please visit our Vaccinations page.

Ask if they have everything they need – Some people might struggle to get the essentials they need. Why not get extra items for them on your shop, or help with an online shop.

Make sure they attend their GP appointments – It is really important that people attend their scheduled healthcare appointments.

Are they currently in hospital or being discharged from hospital? – visit Discharge from hospital – NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB for support and guidance.

Seeing your child unwell can sometimes be worrying, but your health visitor, practice nurse, nurse practitioner, GP and pharmacist can all give you advice on how to treat your child’s illness.

The GP can treat your child and prescribe medicines. Some health visitors, nurses and pharmacists can also diagnose illness and prescribe medicines for your child.

If your child is ill, you can try your local pharmacy first. They’ll tell you if your child needs to see a GP. If your child has signs of serious illness, contact your GP surgery directly or take them straight to the A&E department of your local hospital.

Most GP surgeries are very supportive towards parents of small children. Some will fit babies into surgeries without an appointment or see them at the beginning of surgery hours. Many GPs will also give advice over the phone.

If you find it difficult to contact your doctor or get to the surgery, you can call NHS 111 for medical advice, 24 hours a day.

There is more help and advice available at Children’s health and wellbeing – NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.

Did you know that you don’t always need to see a GP or doctor to referred to some services?  Self-referral is an option where you can contact the service directly, it can make it easier and faster for you to get help.

Find out more on our self referral for patients page.