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.

Be ready for Easter, says NHS 24

STAFF at Scotland’s national telehealth and telecare services are reminding people to help themselves look after their health this Easter.

The dedicated staff at NHS 24’s contact centre in South Queensferry – like many other people within the health and emergency services throughout Scotland – will be working for the national telehealth service over Easter to ensure that out-of-hours care is available to those who need it when their doctors’ surgeries are closed.

The comprehensive health advice line – which includes nurse advisors, dental health, pharmacy and mental health advisors among its specialist staff –is preparing to receive thousands of calls from patients across Scotland this Easter.

Julie Hunter will be one of the nurses working at NHS 24’s South Queensferry contact centre over the Easter holiday weekend. The mother-of-two from Grangemouth combines her job at NHS 24 with bank shifts on a Cardiology ward at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital. She said: “As a nurse, I always make sure I have over-the-counter medicines at home to treat the children when they are unwell. In fact, I am always the one my neighbours call on because I am a nurse and because they know my medicine cabinet has been re-stocked for the Easter period.”

NHS 24 is working closely with all Scottish Health Boards as part of a national NHS Scotland campaign encouraging Scots, particularly parents and older people, to be prepared for Easter and advises how they can look after themselves if they catch a cough or cold.

Professor George Crooks, Medical Director at NHS 24, adds: “Easter is one of the busiest times of the year for the NHS in Scotland and we expect to be busy taking calls from patients in need at our centre in South Queensferry during the holiday break,” he said.

“For many of our callers over Easter, we will be offering self-care advice – so making sure you are prepared in advance should help many people enjoy the break.

“By taking just a few minutes to ensure that you have enough regular or repeat medication to see you through, it may prevent you and your family from becoming ill and ruining your holiday.

“We would also remind people that they have a huge range of health information available at their fingertips at www.nhsinform.co.uk “

Repeat prescriptions? Plan ahead!

Scots urged to plan ahead for repeat prescriptions at Christmas time

With Christmas only a matter of weeks away, people in Lothian are being urged to plan ahead for repeat prescriptions as part of a major health campaign.

The NHS Scotland Be Ready for Winter campaign is reminding people to make sure they check any repeat prescriptions they need for themselves and those they look after ahead of time this festive period.

As well as making sure their medicine cabinets are re-stocked with commonly used remedies for minor illnesses, people are being urged to organise any required repeat prescription as soon as possible.

Dr John McAnaw, Head of Pharmacy at NHS 24, said it is important for people taking regular medication to make sure they have enough supplies to last them through to the New Year. He said: “At this time of year, with only a couple of weeks left until Christmas, people will be focused on getting organised to make sure they can make the most of the holiday period. It is important not to forget about putting winter health necessities on your ‘to do’ list.

“It also only takes a few minutes to collect some over-the-counter remedies for winter ailments. If you take regular medications, please ensure you check you have enough left to cover the holiday period. It’s also important not to over order, so only request what you need, and make sure you don’t run out of anything during that time.”

This year, GP surgeries will be closed for two days: Wednesday 25^th and Thursday 26^th December.

The Co-operative Pharmacy is supporting the campaign. Nisith Nathwani, Regional Development Manager for The Co-operative Pharmacy and General Council Member for Community Pharmacy Scotland, said: “We are very pleased to support NHS Scotland’s Be Ready for Winter campaign and our Co-operative Pharmacy branches up and down the country will be on hand to offer health advice and winter remedies to our local communities throughout the winter. Our pharmacists are trained to offer health and medication advice and should be the first port of call throughout the winter months.”

It is important to get prescriptions ordered and collected as early as possible, with the last day for re-ordering any repeat prescription being Thursday 19^th December to be sure of getting it before Christmas.

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found atwww.nhsinform.co.uk/winter

or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.

The four key steps that Be Ready for Winter is recommending everyone take in preparation for their health this winter are:

Restock your winter medicine cabinet

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 advice or help if you have run out of any prescribed medication. You can also collect medicine for minor ailments or illnesses.

Make sure you have repeat prescriptions.

If you or someone you care for needs to re-order a medicine they regularly take, make sure you order and collect the 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 will be open

Your local doctor’s surgery will be open on Tuesday 24^th December then closed on Wednesday 25^th and Thursday 26^th December.

Check your GP opening times

With Christmas upon us, NHS Scotland is now reminding the public of the GP surgery closures over New Year:

While GP practices re-open on Thursday after the Christmas break, the NHS Scotland Be Ready for Winter campaign advises people to be aware that many GP surgeries and pharmacies will be closed for two days again at the New Year (Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd January) .

NHS 24’s Medical Director Professor George Crooks, explained: “While NHS Scotland staff have been very busy over the Christmas period, it is important that people remember there is another period of GP practices’ closures over Hogmanay. It’s important that people know the opening times of their local pharmacy too and make use of the next couple of days to re-stock with simple home remedies to ensure they can look after themselves and their family if needed.

“Knowing you have remedies at home to help if a winter illness does strike can make all the difference and if your symptoms worsen while your GP surgery is closed, you should contact NHS 24”

Many GPs will be working hard throughout the festive period supporting local Out of Hours services and Be Ready for Winter has the backing of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Scotland and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Scotland. Dr John Gillies, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, said: “Cold and flu bugs are most prevalent between January and March. Be prepared by stocking your medicine cabinet with suitable over the counter remedies. If you are in a vulnerable group make sure you have requested a flu vaccine from your practice. Remember that your local general practice will not be closed for very long, but if you do need out of hours advice you can look at NHS inform online or contact NHS 24.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88. Winter health advice is also available through the NHSScotland digital TV channel, or follow NHS 24 on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and tips.

The four key steps that Be Ready for Winter is recommending everyone take in preparation for their health this winter are:

Restock your winter medicine cabinet

Use your local pharmacy

Make sure you have repeat prescriptions.

If you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last over the Christmas holiday period.

Know when your GP surgery will be open

Your local doctor’s surgery will be open on Monday 31st December and closed for two days on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd January 2013.