The NHS belongs to us all - let’s use it right!

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You've got a cold.  Do you pop into your local pharmacist and buy a pack of paracetamol or make an appointment to see your GP?

You've twisted your ankle.  Do you spend 4 hours in A&E or be seen and treated in a minor injuries unit within an hour?

There is a huge range of health services in Hertfordshire and people have told us that they do not always know where to go when they fall ill, or have enough information about what different NHS services actually offer. At the same time people want to know more about what they can do to look after their families’ and their own health.

Using the right health services is not only good for individuals but helps the NHS as a whole by making sure resources are used in the right way.

The NHS belongs to us all - let's use it right.

  • Feeling unwell?
    • For colds and flu rest, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin
    • For 24-hour health advice ring NHS 111.
    • From 8am to 8pm you can also see a GP at:
    • If your GP surgery is closed, you can use the out of hours service by calling NHS 111.
  • Self-care

Self-care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries.  For conditions like backache, earache, coughs and colds, you are best off looking after yourself to begin with then seeking help if your condition doesn't improve.

BePreparedBe prepared - keep a well stocked medicine cabinet 

Going to your GP for medicines for things like headaches, hayfever, indigestion, colds, coughs, flu, constipation and diarrhoea costs the NHS in Hertfordshire around £9 million each year. 

Money that the NHS spends on these medicines is money that cannot be used to help patients with more complex health problems. 

You can be prepared for most common illnesses and ailments by keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home. You can buy all the items you need from your local pharmacist or supermarket often at very little cost.

You probably won’t need to keep all these items in your medicine cabinet “just in case” but you may want to include a selection of those you use most often.

You can always ask your local pharmacist for advice on medicines and common ailments. More information on how your pharmacist can help is available on the Ask Your Pharmacist website from the National Pharmacy Association.

We have produced a number of information sheets on how to take care of yourself for a number of common ailments.

Constipation Moisturisers
Diarrhoea Muscle sprains and strains
Hay Fever

Pain
Bath Oils for Dry Skin Conditions


Some more general information
Self-care-pharmacy-poster Be prepared leaflet
  • Pharmacy

Visit your pharmacist (chemist) for advice when you are suffering from common health problems that do not need to be seen by a nurse or doctor like coughs, colds, aches and indigestion. Your local pharmacy can be found on NHS Choices

In Hertfordshire we have several pharmacies that are open for long hours, 7 days a week.

Ask your pharmacist and get healthy help on the High Street
There are more than 230 pharmacies across Hertfordshire.  One can be found on almost every High Street or shopping parade and many are open late and at weekends. Make your local pharmacy your first port of call for minor illnesses.

Help save millions!
Did you know that wasted medicines cost NHS Hertfordshire £7 million each year, this means that about one in every 20 medicines prescribed is unused and that this is money that could be spent on 1400 hip operations, 980 heart by-pass operations or 210 community nurses?

  • NHS 111

For when it's less urgent than 999 call 111.  This service has replaced NHS Direct in Hertfordshire, and will be nationwide by autumn 2013.

  • GP services

If you have an illness that just won't go away make an appointment to see your GP or practice nurse or speak to them on the phone.

Many GPs in Hertfordshire are now open for longer and offer early morning, late evening or Saturday morning appointments for those people who find it difficult to get to their GP during usual opening hours.  Ask your practice manager for details or visit www.nhs.uk.

GP heath centres
In Hertfordshire we have two GP heath centres - one in Hemel Hempstead and one in Welwyn Garden City - that are open 8am to 8pm every day.  You can register for a full range of GP services or just use the centre for the occasional appointment - link to relevant pages.  These health centres are open to everyone living or working in the area - not just residents of the towns where they are located.

If you need urgent GP assistance in the evening or at weekends please call NHS 111.

  • Minor Injuries

Minor injuries units can treat injuries like sprains, cuts, grazes, bites, stings, burns and scalds.  They can treat children aged 2+.

  • Urgent Care Centres

Urgent Care Centres treat most injuries or illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening.  This includes sprains, strains, fractures, wounds, burns, scalds, minor head injuries, bites, stings, cuts and grazes.

  • A&E

 A&E is for life-threatening situations such as a heart attack or stroke and for the care of people who show the symptoms of serious illness or who are badly injured.  In an emergency dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.

You can download the posters or leaflet here.

  • Let's Use It Right! evaluation survey 

We are currently evaluating our Let's Use It Right! campaign and as part of this we have produced a short survey. We would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes answering some simple questions, it should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Click here to take survey