NHS 24’s ‘Healthy Know How’ tips to keep you fit and well this spring!
Do:
check you have remedies to treat common illnesses at home.
remember many GP practices and pharmacies will be closed over the Easter weekend, and some may be closed for local bank holidays in May.
make sure you have enough prescribed medication to last through any spring holidays.
order any medicines you need in plenty of time.
Find more spring health tips at:
Members of the public are being reminded not to visit NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals if they have symptoms of Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 or flu.
Anyone planning to visit a loved one in hospital should not do so if they are displaying any symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea.
All visitors should also practice good hygiene by ensuring they regularly wash their hands to prevent the spread of viruses.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are common symptoms of Gastroenteritis, flu and COVID-19, along with headaches, fever and muscle or limb pain.
Flu and COVID-19 symptoms also include coughs, chills, a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose.
Symptoms of Gastroenteritis include:
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Symptoms of flu include:
In recent years, taking precautions against viral infections have become part of our daily life and we can all continue to help each other by following guidance around slowing the spread of viruses and practicing good hygiene.
You can protect yourself and others by staying at home if you are unwell and by cleaning hands and surfaces regularly.
Dr Aleksandra Marek, Consultant Microbiologist and Infection Control Doctor, said: “During the winter months, illnesses such as Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 and flu, can add to the pressures that staff face across our sites.
“To help protect yourself, your loved ones and our services, we are asking members of the public not to visit our hospital sites if they are displaying symptoms of any of these viruses.
“We are also asking anyone who does attend a site to follow infection control guidance, such as washing your hands regularly.
“Our dedicated members of staff are working around the clock to continue to provide the highest standard of patient-centred care possible.”
NHSGGC is urging people to only attend Emergency Departments (A&E) if their condition is very urgent or life-threatening.
Any patient unsure of who to turn to has a range of options available to them:
1. Visit the NHS Inform website: https://www.nhsinform.scot/
2. Call NHS24 on 111
3. Visit the NHSGGC website: https://www.nhsggc.scot/your-health/right-care-right-place/
For very urgent or life-threatening emergencies, the public should continue to call 999 or attend A&E.
NHS 24 is delighted to have been awarded the top prize for Best Use of Technology in Healthcare at the Herald Digital Transformation Awards 2021.
These awards focus on, and celebrate, how organisations across all industries and sectors have successfully adopted digital technology into their daily practices.
Best Use of Technology in Healthcare
The NHS Inform COVID portal has offered trusted advice 24/7/365 throughout the pandemic. Anyone with a digital device has had access to answers at their moment of need. More than 27 million sessions have delivered timely, safe and accurate information to the public, at their fingertips, day and night.
Dr Laura Ryan, Executive Medical Director at NHS 24 said: “In a period where we have seen incredible pressure on NHS services to continue to deliver the highest quality of care, we are delighted that the NHS inform digital platform, which has had 44 million hits from members of the public since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic, has been considered for this award.
“The team behind this work have been innovative, creative and responsive to respond to health and wellbeing needs, and we are delighted that they are being recognised in this way.
“We know that the mental health campaign and the Covid-19 portal on NHSinform.scot have provided safe, up to date information and advice to millions of Scots throughout since early 2020.
“This recognition encourages us as we continue to develop innovative online support alongside our telephone services with a clear focus on accessibility and choice for the public when they use our services.”
Winners were announced at a virtual ceremony on 4 November 2021
As pandemic restrictions begin to ease people in Scotland are encouraged to join over 30,000 others who have already turned to Scotland’s Service Directory in 2021 as a convenient way to find support services for health and wellbeing at their fingertips.
Scotland’s Services Directory has been developed by NHS 24 in association with Macmillan Cancer Support and health and care charity The Alliance. The online directory offers contact details for local, quality-assured, health and care services across all regions in Scotland. Every Health and Social Care Partnership has a number of services listed.
Scotland’s Service Directory is available on NHSinform.scot providing easy access on a wide range of health and wellbeing groups and services, including how to stay active, cancer services, dementia support, social activities for mental health, and money advice. NHS services are also listed.
A national campaign promoting the Directory will run over summer.
You’re not alone with your mental health. We’re here to help you.
This is the clear message coming from NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as they launch a new campaign to support mental health and wellbeing for people across Scotland in time for World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2020.
The Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness of a range of mental health information and services that support mental health.
It’s been developed to support wider partnership working between NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance service as part of a joint response to the Scottish Government Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027.
Over the past 18 months, the three organisations have been working together to develop new ways to support people in mental health distress when they contact their services.
NHS 24 has created a new 24/7 Mental Health Hub that provides support for those contacting the 111 service. In addition, people calling Police Scotland in mental health distress are also now offered access to the 111 Mental Health Hub service. Collaboration work with Scottish Ambulance Service is also underway to develop a similar pathway.
Under the banner ‘Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health’ the partners are able to signpost to a range of self-help guides and options for further support at www.nhsinform.scot/youmatterwecare.
This campaign page also offers additional information for a range of day to day concerns such as anxiety, depression, young people’s mental health needs, alcohol, gambling and drug use.
NHS 24 offers a range of mental health services in addition to the 111 Mental Health Hub, including Breathing Space’s telephony and web chat services, NHS inform self-help guides, and Living Life’s CBT service.
Stephanie Philips, Director of Service Delivery at NHS 24, said: “We are pleased to be working together with Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide the best possible outcomes for people in mental health distress.
“We are able to support many of those who come into contact with our services to find support and self-care options in their own communities but we are also absolutely reinforcing the message that if you need help now there are a range of services available to you.
“We really want people in mental health distress to know that they are not alone. Our team are here to help those getting in touch with our services with a compassionate response.”
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “I doubt there is a single one of us who has not thought about our own mental health and wellbeing at some point over the past few months.
“In many ways, the pandemic has helped to destigmatise mental health, and reminded us that it is okay not to feel okay. More people have been asking each other how they are doing and the importance of good mental health is clear.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have invested £6 million of additional funding to support the population’s mental health, including £2.1 million to expand the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Round the clock, trained practitioners at NHS 24 will offer callers a compassionate and empathic listening service based on the principles of psychological first aid, as well as advice, signposting and onward referral to local services if required.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie (Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing) said: “Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for Police Scotland as part of our statutory requirement to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities.
“Much of the demand on the organisation now comes from incidents which no longer result in a crime report being raised, such as people in distress or experiencing a mental health crisis. Calls of this nature can come to the police from concerned family and friends, passers-by, and other agencies, as well as individuals themselves.
“Police Scotland has recently completed the national roll-out of a new way of assessing calls to its 101 and 999 service to improve the way we respond to contact from the public.
“Where appropriate, we engage in partnerships with colleagues around the country in health, social care and third sector organisations to help people to access the most suitable support at the appropriate time.”
Frances Dodd, Director for Care Quality and Professional Development for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners in NHS 24 and Police Scotland on ‘Together Let’s Care’.
“Integrated working across services on issues like mental health means we can deliver a joined up approach to supporting patients and working together to deliver improved care for those suffering mental health across Scotland.
“The ‘Together Let’s Care’ campaign is designed to assist patients to access the right mental health services first time, and allow health professionals, Police and community-based staff to further enhance the support and services currently in place.
“This campaign increases signposting to a wide variety of self-help guides with the aim to support clinicians improve mental health outcomes by increasing access to specialists and services within local communities.
“It’s so important for all of us to be mindful of our mental health and wellbeing, address mental health issues early and seek help if needed. This service is one part of the system that will ensure we as a community can help identify and address mental health issues early, enabling people to find pathways to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.”
NHS 24 is celebrating the incredible efforts of its Call Handlers and Operators supporting the 111 service, particularly during recent months.
Call Handler and Operators are often the first people you talk to when dialling 111. It’s a skilled job, requiring dedication and care.
To recognise this valuable contribution, NHS 24 will be marking today -Friday October 2nd – as Call Handler and Call Operator Day with tributes being made to staff across Scotland.
These staff are supported by a range of clinical colleagues who understand first-hand the role and how important it is in supporting people who call 111.
Gail MacGregor, Head of Clinical Services at NHS 24’s Cardonald base, said: “Our colleagues provide an essential role as the gateway to our telephone services. As the initial point of contact, they set the first impression and provide support during some of the most difficult times of our caller’s lives.”
The 111 service provides non-emergency medical advice when GPs are not available, and has seen a huge increase in call volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic with calls doubling from 30,000 to 60,000 per week during lockdown.
NHS 24’s Chief Executive, Angiolina Foster, said it’s particularly important to recognise the efforts of staff following record numbers of calls: “Our Call Handlers and Call Operators are the lifeblood of NHS 24, and I have enormous respect for the job they do and the professionalism and care they bring to it.
“I really hope our staff enjoy their richly deserved day in the limelight.”
If you are too unwell to wait until your GP reopens, you can call NHS 24 via the 111 free-to-call number.
You may also find the information you need to manage your symptoms via www.nhsinform.scot, Scotland’s trusted health information site.
A NEW guide has been launched to provide health information for veterans, and the people who support them. Continue reading NHS 24 supports veterans with new online guide
As Easter approaches and the temptation to tuck into sugar-laden treats is strong, NHS 24 is encouraging people to take care of their children’s teeth and gums to reduce any long-term damage. Continue reading Hop to it! Look after the wee one’s teeth this Easter
NHS 24 is reminding people to check their repeat prescription ahead of the Easter holiday weekend.
Easter falls between Friday 19th April and Monday 22nd April and many GP surgeries may be closed during this period. Continue reading Check your repeat prescription ahead of the Easter holiday weekend
People who live in Lothian are being reminded to make the most of the Easter weekend by taking a few simple steps to look after their health. Continue reading Lothian residents encouraged to prepare for a healthy, happy Easter
