NHS services are dealing with challenges on four fronts this winter from rising cases of COVID, winter vomiting bugs and respiratory (breathing) illnesses and flu which has already seen more than a trebling of hospital admissions compared to the same week last year.
Our dedicated staff will be working hard over Christmas and New Year to treat everyone who really needs NHS services. To help prevent the misery of avoidable illness, and ensure that NHS services are there for those who need them, local NHS leaders are calling on everyone in our area to follow this advice:
- Make sure that you and your family are up to date with flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations. These vaccines are especially important for older people, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. Visit the Hertfordshire and west Essex vaccination hub for more information on who is eligible and how to get your vaccine. Don’t delay – get protected before Christmas and New Year socialising increases your risks.
- If you or your family get the norovirus bug that causes sickness and diarrhoea, treat this at home with plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids. Reduce the spread by washing your hands frequently with soap and water – hand gels won’t kill norovirus. Stay at home and especially stay away from care homes, hospitals and social occasions until you’ve been clear of symptoms for at least two days. You will still be very infectious until then.
- If you or a loved one are very unwell over Christmas or New Year, get medical advice straight away. Early help can prevent hospital admissions and save lives. If you need help for a minor concern, see if your local pharmacy is open as they can often help when GP practices are closed. Contact NHS 111 free for urgent help or if you’re unsure. Don’t forget the mental health support on offer via NHS 111 – choose option 2 when you get through.
For the NHS, the first week of January is historically one of the busiest of the year due to a combination of viruses people putting off seeking help over the bank holidays.
Your General Practice will be open at times during the holiday period so visit their website for information if you need help with an ongoing health concern.
For minor illness or concerns there is a service that allows you to walk into a pharmacy and see a pharmacist who can offer appropriate advice, treatment and support for the following range of minor illnesses and health concerns:
- Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- Sore throats (aged 5 years and over)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women (aged 16 to 64 years)
Where the pharmacist is unable to help or any symptoms warrant further investigation, the pharmacist can direct the individual to their GP surgery or another health care professional as appropriate. Find a pharmacy open near you on the NHS website.
For more information on keeping well this winter visit the Hertfordshire and west Essex winter health and wellbeing information hub. Thank you for playing your part in helping the NHS.