NHS 24 is sharing advice to help people across Scotland enjoy a healthy festive holiday – and what to do if it’s not so healthy!
The advice is part of a new public health campaign which highlights the benefits of using NHS 24’s digital services like NHS inform and the NHS 24 Online app when you need quick, safe and accurate health information.
Dr Ron Cook, NHS 24’s Medical Director, says the digital services use the same clinical advice people get if they call NHS 24 and offer a great first option when people are unwell and are not sure if they need to seek further help:
“Approximately a quarter of people who call the 111-service are given self-care advice which means, with a little bit of preparation, they could have saved themselves a lot of time and looked after symptoms safely and effectively at home.
“The best thing to do if you become unwell is make NHS inform your first port of call.
“The symptom checkers will get you the right clinically assured health advice on a wide range of conditions including coughs, rashes, stomach bugs, or back pain.
“Checking your symptoms this way will tell you how best to manage and what to do next if you need further help.
“I would also advise people to be prepared for common illnesses by having over-the-counter medicines such as painkillers, cold and flu relief, and remedies for upset tummies available at home.
“We want as many people as possible, including both patients and our staff, to enjoy this special time of year.
“If people can look after the common winter illnesses that can be safely cared for at home, it means the 111 service can help those who need it most.”
Being prepared for winter is easy:
- Keep some medicines to treat common illnesses at home.
- If you rely on medications from your GP, check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time.
- If you become unwell, NHS inform and the NHS 24 Online app have useful symptom checkers to help you decide what to do next.
- Be aware that your GP practice and local pharmacy will have amended opening hours over the festive holidays.
NHS 24 has published a winter health page on NHS inform, which is a handy resource to signpost the public to relevant advice for seasonal illnesses and conditions.
For more information on how to stay healthy this winter, visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/winter
