NHS 24, Scotland’s national telehealth service and provider of the out of hours 111 service, is offering advice to help Scots enjoy the New Year celebrations.
Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director of NHS 24, said: “The turn of the year is a perfect opportunity for friends and family to get together, but it also means that the opening times of GP surgeries and pharmacies will be different. The best preparation for the Hogmanay is to make sure you have some over the counter medicines in the house so that if someone does fall ill you can deal with the symptoms quickly.
“The most common winter illnesses can be looked after at home with things like cold and flu remedies, rehydration salts in case of upset stomachs and pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen, in liquid form if you have youngsters at home. You can check symptoms using the self-help guides at www.nhsinform.scot and your local pharmacist can advise with a range of minor ailments and questions about medicines. They can also give you your repeat prescription, if you run out. Of course, if you feel worse you should seek a routine doctor’s appointment or contact NHS 24 if your surgery is closed and you cannot wait until it is open.
“Knowing when local services such as the community pharmacy and GP surgery are open can save you a lot of time and worry over the holidays, and it means out of hours services are there for when you really need them. Taking these simple steps means you can welcome in the New Year feeling healthy and well.”
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
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