Self-care is about keeping fit and healthy, understanding when you can look after yourself, when a pharmacist can help, and when to get advice from your GP or another health professional. If you have a long-term condition, self-care is about understanding that condition and how to live with it.

Common conditions and minor ailments such as colds and flu, upset stomachs, and aches and pains are generally not serious health problems for most patients. You can easily treat yourself at home, or with advice from a local pharmacist, helping you to feel better sooner and avoid unnecessary trips to your GP or A&E department.  

Here are some simple self-care steps everyone can follow: 

• A well-stocked medicine cabinet – is vital as we aim to be well this winter and there are various items, we can make sure we have at home to treat minor ailments, for example, including paracetamol, cough syrup and throat lozenges. Most people suffering from colds and ‘flu can treat their symptoms at home without going to your local practice. Antibiotics do not help get rid of colds and ‘flu and most people will start to feel better in a few days, taking plenty of fluids, rest and an over-the-counter medication.

All the above are available from your local pharmacy or supermarket at a low cost – no prescription or GP appointment required. Further information on medicine cabinet essentials can be found on the NHS.uk website. 

• The NHS App – is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.  You can use it to get health advice using the health A-Z on the NHS website, get advice about COVID-19, order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, find out what to do when they need help urgently using NHS 111 onlineand much more.

• Looking after common conditions – The Self Care Forum has produced a series of factsheets to help you take care of the most common conditions. These provide useful facts about your condition, what you can expect to happen, how to help yourself, when you should see your GP, and where to find out more information. 

• Your local Pharmacist – Knowing what to do to treat a minor ailment is something our local Pharmacists can help with, and they can provide information and advice on how best to treat a wide range of minor ailments and conditions.

• When should I Worry – Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness, it can help you to feel more in control. There are several common childhood illnesses that often can effectively be managed at home by parents and carers.  However, understanding when it is OK to look after your child at home and when to seek additional support can be difficult. The ‘When Should I Worry?’ bookletis for parents and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy. 

• Looking after your mental health – There are little things we can all do to help look after our mental health. Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. Plenty of helpful expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing, so discover what works for you.

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