Stay Well This Winter

Stay Well This Winter

With Christmas and New Year fast approaching doctors and pharmacists are reminding people to plan ahead and make sure they have the right medicines to see them through the Christmas holidays.

Those who take regular medication should make sure they have ordered enough to last through the holiday period or ask their GP practice for a new prescription.

Planning ahead like this is very important to help stay well, and it also helps the NHS at a time when services are busy.

Lorraine Gray Interim CEO at Integrated Care 24, who run the 111 services said: “Being prepared is essential at this time of year, this includes ensuring you have sufficient medication for the Christmas period. We receive many NHS 111 calls for repeat prescription medication during this period.

If you have long-term health conditions you should ensure you are prepared for the four-day Christmas bank holiday.

Dr John Stammers a GP from Sole Bay Health Centre in Reydon and Chairman of the CCG  “Your local pharmacist is a valuable resource – they can provide advice, offer services such as contraception, over-the-counter medicines can provide repeat prescriptions. If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, ask them if they need help collecting their medications.”

It is a message supported by Great Yarmouth and Waveney’s pharmacies – many of which will be open over Christmas to help people who become ill and need advice and medicines.

Jessica Adcock from Boots Pharmacy in Bungay said: ”Being at the heart of local communities gives us the opportunity to help patients and customers to care for themselves and their families.”

Stay Well This Winter

You can see the full list of pharmacies open on Bank Holidays at
www.england.nhs.uk/mids-east/our-work/pharm-info/

It is also important to make sure medicine cabinets contain all the essential items. Medicine cabinet the essentials include:

• painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, including versions for children

• cold, flu and indigestion remedies

• plasters

• bandages

• antiseptic cream

• thermometer

For health information over the festive period please go to www.nhs.uk/staywell or search for #StayWellThisWinter on social media