NHS 24 urges people to prepare for when winter bugs bite
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People are being reminded to plan ahead for any winter bugs that might strike during a busy time of year for the NHS.
NHS 24 has launched its annual winter health campaign, encouraging people to be prepared and be aware that pharmacies and GP surgeries will be closed for longer than usual over the Christmas and New Year weekends.
The campaign reminds people who rely on repeat prescriptions to check they have enough to last over the holidays and to reorder in plenty of time. People are also reminded that GP opening times will be affected by the festive holidays and to make sure they have cold and flu remedies in, just in case.
As part of this year’s campaign, NHS 24 is also highlighting the benefits of using NHS digital tools to find accurate and trusted clinical information online for free.
This year, GP surgeries will be closed for four days at Christmas (December 23-26) and four days again at New Year (December 30-January 2).
Dr Ron Cook, NHS 24’s associate medical director, said most winter coughs and colds can be safely and effectively managed at home.
“Roughly a third of the calls to NHS 24’s 111 service result in self-care advice, so people can save themselves time by being prepared and, if they do think they need to speak to someone or their symptoms are not improving, they can check our website or app first.
“It’s important that anyone who relies on regular medication checks they have enough to last the extended holidays – we get a huge number of calls from people who have run out of meds, and no one wants to have to try and find a pharmacy that’s open over the festive holidays so be prepared to avoid that inconvenience!
“You should have things like painkillers and cold and flu medicine in the cupboard, just in case. A little preparation can really pay off to make sure that relatively minor health issues don’t cause more of a problem.”
Everything winter health related can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/winter. NHS 24 has also recently revamped its corporate website (nhs24.scot) and updated the NHS 24 app to include more mental wellbeing symptom checkers and the inclusion of defibrillator locations.
