We want you to be as healthy as possible and that doesn’t just mean treating illnesses, but living well to reduce the impact of illness or prevent illnesses in the first place too.
The internet is full of resources, but it is difficult to know which sites you can trust. Below we have included resources that we think you’ll find helpful and provide sound medical-evidenced advice.
Self-help
The NHS website includes helpful advice for almost all conditions and information on medications. Another very useful resource written by UK doctors is patient.info which we use a lot to provide leaflets about conditions when you come to see us. It often includes more comprehensive information than the NHS website including several ‘calculators’ such as your BMI, alcohol unit intake, depression and anxiety scores.
If you’re not sure about the name of the condition or how to spell a symptom then using a body map can help by selecting a part of the body affected.
Pharmacy First
Your local pharmacist can help with lots of things, can be quicker than waiting for an appointment at the surgery, and often don’t need an appointment.
Your pharmacist may be able to help with:
- skin conditions, such as mild acne and mild eczema
- coughs and colds, including nasal congestion and sore throat
- minor cuts and bruises
- constipation and haemorrhoids (piles)
- hay fever and allergies
- aches and pains, such as headaches, earache and back pain
- indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
- period pain and thrush
- warts and verrucas, mouth ulcers and cold sores
- athlete’s foot
- nappy rash and teething
Some pharmacies also provide truss fittings, stoma products and incontinence supplies.
Wellbeing for Life
This is a free service in County Durham to help support anyone with healthy eating, mental wellbeing and resilience, improving your physical activity, accessing appropriate support, and increasing your knowledge and skills.
Their website shows the range of support they can provide: https://www.wellbeingforlife.net/services/
Home medicine cabinet
We suggest you keep the following in a safe place, not accessible by children:
- Paracetamol and aspirin (children under 16 and people with asthma should not take aspirin)
- Mild laxatives
- Anti-diarrhoeal medicines
- Rehydration mixture
- Indigestion remedy (for example, antacids)
- Travel sickness tablets
- Sunscreen – SPF15 or higher
- Sunburn treatment (for example, calamine)
- Tweezers and sharp scissors
- A thermometer
- A selection of plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings