NHS in Cumbria says 'plan ahead for this Easter bank holiday'
It wants people to check pharmacy opening times and order repeat prescriptions early.
Local NHS organisations are asking people to #DoYourBit and prepare for the upcoming Easter bank holiday weekend by thinking ahead when it comes to checking pharmacy opening times, ordering repeat prescriptions and ensuring a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
The opening times for pharmacies in north Cumbria over the Easter bank holiday weekend are available online at: www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/pharmacytimes
Pharmacy and Medicines Lead for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, Helena Gregory, said:
“Patients with regular prescriptions should ensure that they have a supply of medication to last through the bank holiday weekend, keeping in mind the limited Pharmacy opening times.
“It’s always useful to keep your medicine cabinet stocked, even if you aren’t on regular prescriptions, having painkillers and plasters to hand is always useful.”
Medicine cabinet essentials include:
• painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, including for children, to be used for minor aches, pains (e.g. headaches and menstrual pain) and fever
• over-the-counter cough, cold and flu remedies
• oral rehydration sachets and anti-diarrhoea tablets for diarrhoea
• antacid tablets or liquid for Indigestion, stomach ache, heartburn, trapped wind
• plasters, bandages and antiseptic for cuts and grazes
The region’s NHS continues to be very busy with high demand for services. At the same time the region is seeing a rise in the number of people with Covid and as a result, increases in staff absences. As a result organisations are encouraging people to choose the right service for their needs and reminding that A&E departments and 999 are there to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions.
The NHS111 online service at: 111.nhs.uk can offer advice on the best place to get help for your symptoms if you’re not sure what to do. A series of questions will help to assess symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.
There are also lots of other online resources available.
Helena continued:
“In north Cumbria we have some excellent online resources to support people’s mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. We’d encourage you to explore them as a really useful step in looking after your own health and wellbeing.”
‘The Sound Doctor’ is available to access through www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/thesounddoctor and includes a huge range of award winning, bite-sized health advice films and structured education courses.
They explain the best ways to manage long-term conditions, bringing practical, effective and credible information together. They feature advice from leading national and international experts, as well as patients living well with their conditions.
For children’s health advice you can download The ‘Little Orange Book’, which covers a wide range of illnesses in children from common minor ailments including teething, constipation and colds, through to more serious conditions download here.
Togetherall is available at: www.togetherall.com and provides online peer-peer support, access to an anonymous community, lots of information, as well as courses and resources covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. It is free for anyone aged 16 and over who lives in north Cumbria and people can access it by simply entering their postcode into the website. It also has a range of resources and some really useful courses to help people better understand their feelings and how they can manage them.
Kooth is available at www.kooth.com for young people aged 11-18 providing an online wellbeing community with free, safe and anonymous support. Features include a magazine with helpful articles, personal experiences and tips from young people as well as discussion boards, journals and a live chat function.
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