As part of NHS 24’s ‘Be Health-Wise this Winter’ campaign – Dr Owl is asking people if they know when their GP surgery and local pharmacy are open over the busy festive period. Continue reading Dr Owl says: “Make sure you know GP opening times”
Tag: NHS 24
Make sure repeat prescriptions are top of your Christmas list this year
NHS 24 is reminding people who take regular medication, to make sure repeat prescriptions are top of their Christmas list this year. Continue reading Make sure repeat prescriptions are top of your Christmas list this year
DIYers urged: ‘Don’t Injure Yourself’ this Easter
Spring is traditionally the time many people start to think about tackling jobs around the house and garden. DIY and gardening are good forms of exercise but people are also being reminded to avoid accidents with the message ‘Don’t Injure Yourself’. Continue reading DIYers urged: ‘Don’t Injure Yourself’ this Easter
Make sure food safety’s at the top of your Christmas list
Don’t be a turkey when it comes to food safety this Christmas
NHS 24 is reminding people to be vigilant about food safety this Christmas.The call comes as part of NHS Scotland’s Be #Healthwise This Winter campaign which aims to help people protect their friends and family from illness over the festive and winter period. Continue reading Make sure food safety’s at the top of your Christmas list
Waiting time info now available at NHS inform
PEOPLE seeking information about waiting times in Scotland can now access this via Scotland’s national health information service, NHS inform. Queries can be directed to the national health information service on 0800 22 44 88.
The extension of the NHS inform service builds on the ‘Your Health, Your Rights‘ resource at www.nhsinform.co.uk/rights which brings together information for the public about their health rights, access to health care and national waiting times.
Developed by NHS 24 in partnership with the Scottish Government, the zone was launched in 2013 with the aim of making it easier for patients to access the information relevant to them in one place.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Patients have an entitlement to be treated as quickly as possible but also at a time that fits in with their lives. The helpline provided through NHS inform will continue to give patients a single point of contact to find out more about their rights and how long they can expect to wait for treatment.
“Waiting times continue to be amongst their lowest ever levels in Scotland, and we want to make sure that patients know what they are entitled to. This information line will also help ensure that waiting times are open, transparent, and that patients receive help and support if they need it.”
NHS 24 Head of Health Information Services Lynne Huckerby added: “Our health information team are trained to answer health information queries on a wide variety of subjects from people throughout Scotland. By contacting NHS inform, people are accessing reliable health information from a trusted source.
“Directing their waiting times queries to the NHS inform phoneline will make it easier for people to access clear and accurate information on their rights and responsibilities. It allows people to access all the health information they need from a single trusted source.”
For more information, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk/rights
The NHS inform helpline is available on 0800 22 44 88, 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Be healthwise this Easter
Scots are being offered a final reminder to plan ahead as part of this year’s Be Health-Wise This Easter campaign …
With coughs and colds still common during Easter, NHS Scotland’s wise Dr Owl is urging people to take a few simple steps to look after their health.
By knowing when their GP surgery is open, re-stocking their medicine cabinet and ordering and collecting repeat prescriptions in plenty of time for Easter, people can ensure they make the most of the holiday weekend.
NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks, said: “With many GP surgeries across Scotland closed for up to four days over the Easter holiday weekend, it’s vital to plan ahead and ensure you and your family stay well this spring. Although we are seeing some signs of spring, there are still many coughs, colds and seasonal illnesses circulating within communities across Scotland.
“We are therefore advising people to keep remedies for common ailments available, especially for families with young children. If you take regular repeat medication, it is also important to make sure you have enough to last over the Easter holiday weekend.
“By following these simple steps, you can help keep yourself and your family well and make the most of the Easter holiday weekend.”
This year many GP surgeries across Scotland will close for four days from Good Friday (April 3th) to Easter Monday (April 6th), before re-opening on Tuesday 7th April.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk
or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Dr Owl’s eggstra-special holiday health tips
Eggstra special seasonal health advice (sorry!) …
Dr Owl – the memorable and wise character from a national health campaign – takes to the skies across Scotland again today urging people to take a few simple steps to look after their health this Easter.
Dr Owl was joined by five-year-old Freya Cowie from Dunblane and seven-year-old Jack Ozen from South Queensferry at the New Hopetoun Garden Centre to launch this year’s Be Health-Wise This Easter campaign. The campaign, which is run by NHS 24 on behalf of NHS Scotland, is reminding people that by making sure they have a supply of over the counter medicines, knowing when their GP surgery is open and checking their repeat prescriptions, they can ensure they make the most of the Easter holiday weekend.
This year many GP surgeries across Scotland will close for four days from Good Friday (3 April) to Easter Monday (6 April), before re-opening on Tuesday 7 April.
After winter, Easter is the busiest time of year for Scotland’s health services. NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks said: “Easter falls slightly earlier this year and as such, there are still many common illnesses circulating within communities. The Be Health-Wise This Easter campaign wants to remind people of the small steps they can take to ensure illness doesn’t ruin their Easter.
“Being prepared by having enough repeat medication to cover you and having some simple home remedies available can make all the difference if illness strikes. It is also important to plan ahead for any required repeat prescriptions over the Easter break, so please order and collect in good time. We would also remind people of the wide range of health information available at NHS inform.”
Although many GP surgeries will be closed at Easter, hundreds of GPs and nurses are working throughout this period supporting out of hours services across Scotland to see patients with conditions that need urgent attention over the holiday period and cannot wait until the surgeries reopen on Tuesday.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Listen to wise Dr Owl: know your opening times
PEOPLE across Scotland are being encouraged to Be Health-Wise This Winter and know when their GP surgery is open over the festive holidays.
Dr Owl – the wise and memorable character from the campaign – is advising people to be aware that GP surgeries will be open on Wednesday 24 December, before closing for four days – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December. They will then reopen on Monday 29 December.
GP surgeries will then follow normal opening hours until closing again on Thursday 1 January, re-opening again on Monday 5 January.
As well as knowing the holiday opening and closure times of your local GP, people are also being urged to make sure they have cold and flu remedies to treat common winter ailments and to plan ahead for any required repeat prescriptions.
Professor George Crooks, Medical Director of NHS 24, said: “Many GP surgeries will be closed for four days over Christmas and again at New Year, so it is essential that everyone is prepared and knows exactly when their local services are available and how to access them.”
He added: “If you are unlucky enough to get a cough, cold or flu, buying over the counter medicine, staying at home and keeping warm will make you feel much better. And remember that many pharmacies will be open over the festive period. Your local pharmacist is a good source of information and you don’t need an appointment to speak to them.”
The national Be Health-Wise this Winter campaign is supported by NHS Scotland in partnership with NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service and all 14 Scottish Health Boards.
Many GPs will be working hard throughout the festive period supporting local Out of Hours services and the Be Health-Wise This Winter campaign has the backing of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Scotland.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk/winter or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Check you have cold and flu remedies
Many children and adults pick up common winter ailments such as a cold or flu-like illness. These can often be effectively treated at home with readily available medicine. Parents are reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with remedies suitable for children.
Use your local pharmacy
Your local pharmacy is an accessible resource for you and your family. Your pharmacist can offer health and medicines advice or help you if you have run out of any regularly prescribed medicine. You can also collect medicines to treat a range of minor ailments or illnesses.
Make sure you have enough of your repeat prescriptions. If not, only order what you need and pick it up in plenty of time.
If you, or someone you care for, require medicines regularly, check that you have enough and if you need more remember to order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last over the Christmas holiday period. Remember, only order what you need.
Know when your GP surgery and local pharmacy will be open
Your local GP surgery will be open on Wednesday December 24 and will then reopen on Monday 29 December. This means there are four days when it is closed – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December.
GP surgeries will then follow normal opening hours until closing again on Thursday 1 January, re-opening again on Monday 5 January.
NHS 24 is ready for winter
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt MSP visited NHS 24 yesterday to see how Scotland’s unscheduled care and health information service is preparing to support thousands of patients across the country during the winter months.
The Minister was given a demonstration of the range of services and information that the organisation provides to support patients across Scotland.
With just weeks to go before the busiest time of year over the festive break, Ms Watt, spoke with frontline staff in NHS 24’s Clydebank Contact Centre and saw how the seasonal initiative was supporting staff to deliver first class care for patients over the winter.
She was also shown a range of winter health information which is available on both NHS24.com and Scotland’s national health information service, NHS inform, websites where a winter zone and new winter self help guides have been created to give people high quality, trusted information about how to look after themselves and their families over the winter period.
The Minister also saw how NHS 24 is delivering support to other parts of NHSScotland with a Donor Response unit for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, which was recently established. The unit receives calls to record new donor registrations and responds to inquiries from existing donors. Early in 2015 the service will also be used to contact existing donors if blood stocks are running low.
Just a few weeks ago, Ms Watt launched the new Be Healthwise this Winter campaign, which is delivered by NHS 24 on behalf of NHS Scotland. This comprehensive public communications campaign advises the public to make sure they have over the counter remedies for seasonal illness, check prescriptions and GP surgery opening times over the festive holidays and to seek advice from pharmacies if needed.
Ms Watt said: “NHS 24 provides a valuable service to patients across Scotland when their GP surgery is closed. It allows people at any time of day, in any part of Scotland, to have access to health care advice when they need it.
“As they do every year, NHS 24 are now gearing up for the expected surge in demand over the festive and new year period and I’m confident the additional resources NHS 24 have put in place will meet this demand.
“It is also important though that the general public play their part in helping to support NHS services over winter – making sure they have ordered prescriptions in advance and checking when their GP surgery is close.
“If you do fall ill over the festive period, remember you can seek advice from NHS 24, an out-of-hours GP, or the local pharmacy if your condition is not life-threatening. Using these services, rather than turning up at A&E, will keep our emergency departments free for those who really need them.”
The demonstration took place ahead of a series of meetings looking at NHS 24’s performance over the 2013-14 year, including a public session this afternoon. The event was also being webcast to staff across the service’s main centres around Scotland.
NHS 24’s Chairman Allan Watson said: “We welcomed this opportunity to demonstrate NHS 24’s winter service preparations to the new Public Health Minister and her team today. NHS 24 made sound progress in 2013/14 and the Annual Review provided an important opportunity to review performance and to identify key areas for further work and development.”
For more information find NHS 24 at www.twitter.com/nhs24 and on Facebook www.facebook.com/nhs24
People across Scotland can call NHS 24 using the free phone number 111. 111 gives people access to the help and advice they need when it can’t wait until their GP surgery reopens.
Are you ready for Easter?
PEOPLE across Scotland are being offered a final reminder to plan ahead as part of this year’s Be Ready for Easter campaign.
With coughs and colds still common during Easter, NHS Scotland wants Scots to take a few simple steps to look after their health this month.
By knowing when their GP surgery is open, re-stocking their medicine cabinet and making sure they order any repeat prescriptions they need for themselves and those they look after ahead of Easter, people can ensure they make the most of the holiday weekend.
NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks, said: “With many GP surgeries across Scotland closed for up to four days over the Easter holiday weekend, it’s vital to plan ahead and ensure you and your family stay well this spring.
“We are advising people to keep remedies for common ailments available, to make sure they have enough medication to see them through the holidays and to know when they can get an appointment at their GP surgery.”
The four key steps that Be Ready for Easter recommends this spring are:
Restock your medicine cabinet if needed
Common ailments such as colds can often be effectively treated at home with readily available medicine such as pain relief, cough mixture and cold remedies. Parents are also reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with child-friendly remedies.
Use your local pharmacy
Your pharmacist can offer advice or help if you need over-the-counter remedies or have run out of any prescribed medication. First aid treatments for minor accidents such as plasters and antiseptic creams can also be obtained from the pharmacy.
Make sure you have enough repeat prescription
If you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you have enough medicine to last over the holiday period.
Know when your GP surgery will be open
Your local doctor’s surgery may be closed for four days during the Easter weekend, from 18th April to 21st April.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.