Content originally from Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System.
Community Pharmacy
Pharmacists are experts in medicines, who can help you with minor health concerns.
They can offer you clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
The pharmacist will let you know if you need to visit a doctor or other health professional, but they can help you with a number of things first, which could save you waiting and feel better quicker.
You can just walk in and do not need to book an appointment.
Visit nhs.uk
For a complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.
NHS.uk also features useful information about how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.
NHS 111
For urgent health concerns, you can contact NHS 111 by phone or online.
111 can tell you;
- where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do.
- how to find general health information and advice.
- where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine.
- how to get a repeat prescription.
They will perform a medical screening assessment and will signpost you to the most relevant health service; including the GP or A&E if they feel this is necessary. What’s more, if you do need to see a GP they will organise this for you. To get help from NHS 111, you can:
- Go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
- Call 111
- NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service.
Children’s Guide to Childhood Illnesses
If you care for children or grandchildren it is normal to feel anxious when a child is ill. Sometimes their illness is obvious – they may have visible symptoms such as a runny nose. At other times it isn’t as easy to identify the problem even though you know your child best and can spot if something is wrong. Most illnesses such as sore throats and earache get better by themselves but it’s important that parents know what to do if their child is unwell and how to recognise the signs.
Across mid and south Essex, we have developed a Children’s Health Matters Guide has been designed to give parents, grandparents and carers across Essex NHS advice at their fingertips – to help look after their children’s health and recognise when they are unwell.
Lifestyle Services
Our local lifestyle services support people in local communities with a variety of health, wellbeing and day-to-day need, to make healthier, lifestyle choices and deliver free personalised support that matches your needs.
Speak soon Dr Anna Davey
SWF Health & Social Care Group 