Blackpool Teaching Hospitals are looking to support people to better look after their own, and their family’s health and wellbeing. Empowering individuals to self-care has many benefits for their short term and long term health and this is important since people are living longer, but not necessarily in good health. Knowing what to do and where to go for help is an important part of practicing self-care for life.
Helping people to look after their own health, and their family’s health also helps to manage demand on health services. Remember, it isn’t just the GP practice that can help, pharmacies are also health experts. They are on every High Street and can help with all sorts of ailments. Pharmacists can also signpost you to the right place for additional health advice or treatment. Find your local Pharmacy here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Minor ailments and injuries (such as the ones listed below) can often be treated at home by a combination of over-the-counter medicine and plenty of rest.
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- tickly coughs
- sore throat
- flu-like symptoms
- earaches
Keep a first aid kit and a well-stocked medicine cabinet (always keep medicines out of the reach of children). A basic first aid kit should contain these items.
Remember, *NHS 111 can also be a good resource for health advice for things that are not life-threatening. And the NHS website has lots of information on what steps to take to look after you and your family. For tips to live well the NHS website can help: http://bit.ly/1pKzd7e
The important thing to remember is, practicing self-care is something we all need to do every day. For ourselves. For our families. And for the NHS.