Residents In Beverley and East Yorkshire Reminded Of Self-Care Week 2022

East Riding of Yorkshire health professionals wants to encourage patients to take care of themselves.

A number of GP practices and pharmacies in the East Riding of Yorkshire are encouraging patients to take part in Self-Care Week (14-20 November) and ‘exercise self-care for life’.

Craig Dobson, Medical Advisor, East Riding of Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership said:

“Self-care is not just about taking steps to stay fit and healthy it’s about using information from trusted places such as the NHS choices website where you can learn about medical conditions form the Health AZ and understand how to prevent illness by living well and looking after yourself.

“It’s also about knowing when a pharmacy can help with advice and over-the-counter remedies and when to seek advice from a doctor or other health professional at your local GP practice.

“There are lots of ways we can manage our own health without it being necessary to get medical attention. However, we would always urge people to come forward if you have an issue that just won’t go away, or you have symptoms you’re worried about.”

“Community pharmacies are health experts, and they can help you treat a range of common ailments at home, without it being necessary for you to have an appointment at your local GP surgery.”

The NHS in Humber and North Yorkshire says there are some simple self-care steps everyone can follow: 

Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet – we can make sure we have plenty of remedies to treat common ailments, such as paracetamol, cough syrup and throat lozenges. It is usually possible for people suffering from colds and flu to treat their symptoms at home without having to make an appointment with their GP.

A cold or flu virus cannot be treated with antibiotics, and most people will feel better after taking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking over-the-counter medication. Almost all of the above are available at your local pharmacy or supermarket at a low cost – no prescription is necessary. You can find more information about medicine cabinet essentials online.

Download The NHS App – it’s a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. With NHS 111 online, you can order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, find out what to do when you need help urgently, and get health advice using the health A-Z on the NHS website.

Visit the Self Care Forum – it has produced a series of factsheets to help you take care of the most common conditions. In these, you can learn useful facts about your condition, what you can expect to happen, how you can help yourself, and when you should see your doctor.
 

Check out the Humber and North Yorkshire Health Apps Library – brought to you by Orcha, the health apps library brings together every smartphone app you could possibly imagine helping you stay fit and healthy, or live your best life if you have a long-term medical condition.

Visit your local pharmacy if you have a minor health complaint – knowing what to do to treat a minor ailment is something our local pharmacy teams can help with, and they can provide information and advice on how best to treat a wide range of minor ailments and conditions

Be kind to your mind – search Every Mind Matters for help to deal with mental health and well-being worries. It is possible for us all to do little things to take care of our mental health. When we have good mental health, we are able to relax more, achieve more, and enjoy life more.