Having the flu can leave you feeling awful, but there are steps you can take to speed up your recovery:
Do:
Rest and get plenty of sleep
Keep warm
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce your temperature and ease aches and pains
Stay off work or school until you’re feeling better
Don’t:
Take paracetamol alongside flu remedies that also contain paracetamol
You can check your symptoms and decide what to do next by visiting
An information campaign and increased recruitment of call handlers are among the initiatives NHS 24 has put in place to help protect vital front line health and care services over the festive period.
First Minister John Swinney visited the NHS 24 call centre in Dundee to observe preparations ahead of the Christmas and New Year period and to express his gratitude to staff.
NHS 24 has been working proactively to bolster resilience and alleviate pressure on both the 111 service and other primary care resources. Initiatives include:
The First Minister said: “The festive period is traditionally very challenging for the NHS. The resilience and determination shown by staff in the face of pressures; both at NHS 24 and across the wider health and care sector is truly inspiring.
“NHS 24 data shows that a quarter of calls to 111 can be resolved online, and the service is encouraging more people to take advantage of its digital self-help guides for faster, more convenient care.
“These online tools can help ensure our front line services can focus on those who need urgent care.”
NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Ron Cook, said: “Our digital services use the same clinical advice people get if they call NHS 24 and offer a great first option when people are unwell and are not sure if they need to seek further help.
“We are advising patients to save time and look after symptoms safely and effectively at home by using NHS inform or the NHS 24 Online app’s symptom checkers which will give clinically assured health advice on a wide range of conditions including coughs, rashes, stomach bugs, or back pain.
“By checking symptoms online this will give advice on how best to manage your condition or what to do next if further help is required.”
The Right Care, Right Place campaign reminds the public to use healthcare services appropriately:
Claire is from Glasgow and has been a Senior Charge Nurse at NHS 24’s Cardonald contact centre for a year. She is working both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Claire says: “It has been lovely to take part in the school festive traditions with the kids throughout December. I’m really looking forward to attending the panto on Christmas Eve as well getting involved in some carol singing.
“It’s such a magical time of the year to spend time with the family, and we have lots of quality time planned in between my shifts.
“My top tip for over festive is if you have kids, ensure you have child-friendly remedies available at home.
“Pop into your local pharmacy where they can give you advice on the most appropriate medicines for your family.”
NHS 24 – #PoweredByPeople
Do you know where to get the Right Care in the Right Place?
By using NHS resources wisely, we can keep well and get the care we need quickly, safely and as close to home as possible.
Find out more about #RightCareRightPlace:
Coughs are irritating – they can disturb your sleep and make you feel quite unwell at times. But how can you tell the difference between a short-term cough or whooping cough?
Read on to find out more … 
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. Also known as pertussis, it is frequently described as the 100-day cough.
The first symptoms of whooping cough include:
red and watery eyes
sore throat
a slightly raised temperature
Intense bouts of coughing then begin around a week later. Coughing symptoms at this stage include:
bouts lasting a few minutes at a time
more common at night time
bringing up thick mucus
can cause vomiting
gasping for breath between coughs, which may cause a ‘whoop’ sound (not everyone has this)
Whooping cough can affect people of any age, although young babies under 6 months of age are at a particularly increased risk of complications. Treatment depends on the age of the patient and how long they have had the infection.
Vaccination can protect babies and children from whooping cough. The vaccine is offered to:
women after the 16th week of pregnancy
babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age (the 6-in-1 vaccine)
children by 3 years and 4 months (the 4-in-1 pre-school booster)
Find out more about when to seek help for whooping cough and details on the whooping cough vaccine by visiting NHS inform – useful links in comments!
By knowing how to get the right care in the right place we can keep well and get the care we need quickly, safely and as close to home as possible.
TODAY is #WorldMenopauseDay and it’s a great chance to spread awareness on the information, advice, and support that is available. 
NHS 24 has talked to the experts about a variety of questions (and myths!) that can pop up during this natural transition.
Visit our links in the comments below to find out more:
Menopause information on Women’s Health Platform on NHS inform – 
https://nhs24.info/menopause
View our Women’s Health playlist on the NHS 24 YouTube channel – 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist..
A partnership between NHS 24, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) ensures anyone who needs urgent mental health support will be directed to the most appropriate service for their needs.
Termed the ‘Mental Health Pathway,’ the collaboration between the three services means that people phoning 999 with non-emergency mental health concerns are now referred to NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub.
This is staffed by Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Mental Health Nurses who are highly trained to help patients in mental distress. The Mental Health Hub is designed to support people who need urgent mental health support, where emergency intervention is not required.
The Hub can also be accessed by phoning 111. As well as helping people with their immediate care needs, specialist staff can also refer people to local services. They’ll then get further assessment and treatment if needed. Although most people can be helped immediately and supported with self-care techniques.
Dr Ron Cook is NHS 24’s Medical Director. He details the aims of the Mental Health Pathway and why it became essential for NHS 24, Police Scotland, and Scottish Ambulance Service to work together to provide more effective urgent mental health support for patients: “It is imperative that anyone in mental health crisis or distress can quickly and easily connect with professionals who are experts in that field. Within office hours, patients seeking help with their mental health should contact their own GP.
“However, during the out of hours period, such as evenings and weekends, it is common for patients to be unsure of where to access mental health support. Many will often reach out for help by dialling 999, which may not be the most appropriate care route for them.
“The Mental Health Pathway was set up to streamline the process for anyone needing urgent assistance with their mental health, and aims to make all callers feel supported, understood, and cared for.
“This project has led to a better experience for individuals experiencing mental illness or distress, but also has the added impact of reducing the deployment of frontline services in non-emergencies and easing the demand on emergency services.”
The Mental Health Pathway was developed as a response to actions from the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027, which aims to improve mental health services and outcomes for people in Scotland by providing a comprehensive and integrated approach to mental health.
NHS 24, Police Scotland, and SAS’ partnership went live operationally in 2020, and since then, the project has undergone various evaluation phases and gradual roll-out to thoroughly test processes to ensure patient safety.
2024 has marked a significant milestone for the Mental Health Pathway as over 91% of Police Scotland staff are now trained in the transfer process, with work ongoing to train 100% of applicable staff, secure the pathway as business as usual, and ensure all Police Scotland and SAS staff have awareness of and confidence in transferring mental health callers appropriately.
Anna is a Senior Charge Nurse in NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub, she explains the benefits to patients: “It is great that patients now come directly through to us if they need urgent assistance with their mental health, as it means that they are not waiting for lengthy periods at A&E which may not be the most suitable place for their needs at that time.
“It is so important that we are providing safe and effective care for all patients, and the development of the Mental Health Pathway means that people are getting the help they need at the right time by right person.”
The collaboration between NHS 24, Police Scotland, and SAS not only has a positive impact on patients. The Mental Health Pathway has also meant that police and ambulance staff are no longer deployed unnecessarily to calls regarding mental health unless there is an immediate threat to life.
This change has meant that staff from these services now have more time to perform their core roles.
Notably, Police Scotland data has recorded that 17,413 officer hours were saved over a ten-month period and 99% of their staff confirmed they felt confident making referrals and using the Mental Health Pathway following their training.
Chief Superintendent Matt Paden leads Police Scotland’s Mental Health Taskforce, he said: “Our work around policing’s response to mental health seeks to reset the parameters of policing’s contribution to a system wide response to ensure people get the compassion, help, and support they need and deserve from those best able to provide it.
“Our colleagues in the Mental Health Taskforce and C3 Division have worked closely with partners in NHS 24 and Scottish Ambulance Service to deliver the Mental Health Pathway over a period of years.
“Their important work demonstrates the benefits of referring those in mental health crisis to services best able to meet their needs. This can provide better outcomes for individuals and communities, better value to the public and enable officers to tackle threat, harm and risk and prevent crime.
“Further development and evaluation will continue, but I am grateful to all of those involved in the successful implementation and delivery of the Mental Health Pathway.”
Catherine Totten, Head of Service for Mental Health and Dementia at the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said: “SAS supports people in mental health crisis and distress 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, and we are committed to improving the outcomes and experience for these service users.
“The Mental Health Pathway allows us to directly transfer non-emergency callers to mental health trained clinicians in the NHS 24 mental health hub, ensuring those in crisis receive the right care at the right time.”
Don’t suffer in silence with dental pain.
NHS inform has advice on when and where to seek further help.
Find out more: https://nhs24.info/dental-emergencies
There were 792 deaths by probable suicide in Scotland in 2023. This World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us the importance of looking out for one another and seeking help if we need it.
Talking about suicide can be hard, but there is support and advice out there if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
NHS 24 has a range of services that can help with mental health and mental wellbeing. Please share for awareness!
NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub – Call 111 and select the mental health option for urgent mental health help.
Breathing Space – a free confidential listening service for people over 16 in Scotland who are experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Call 0800 83 85 87 or web chat at www.breathingspace.scot
Living Life – telephone support using talking therapies based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Call 0800 328 9655 or visit https://www.nhs24.scot/how-we-can-help/living-life/
NHS inform – Digital tools and free online courses to get help with your mental wellbeing https://nhs24.info/mental_wellbeing
