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Choose well this Easter

18 April 2011

People are being reminded to stock up their cupboards with over-the-counter medicines to be prepared for the Easter weekend and further bank holidays.

A well-stocked medicine cabinet should include:

  • paracetamol or aspirin
  • anti-diarrhoeal medicine
  • rehydration mixture
  • indigestion remedies
  • plasters
  • thermometer.

By choosing and using the right services, patients can expect to be seen or treated more quickly, while keeping emergency services free for those patients who need them most.

The latest figures for the north west show that, compared to last year, the number of people going to their local accident and emergency (A&E) department has gone up by an average of 5.1%, which is more than 2.1 million. With the north west population at nearly 7 million, this means that 30% of people have visited a hospital A&E department within the last year.

Figures show that 77% of emergency calls to ambulance services result in a journey to A&E, but only 10% have a life-threatening emergency; and of this number only 40% are admitted to hospital and at least 50% could have been treated in a community setting.

On top of this, each year there are around 57 million GP consultations, of which 51.4 million are for minor ailments alone, some of which could have been self-treated by having a well-stocked medicine cabinet.

There’s a range of NHS services on your doorstep:

• Self care – Treat very minor illnesses, ailments and injuries at home.
• NHS Choices – For online advice and information, visit www.nhs.uk
• NHS Direct – For 24/7 advice and information, call 0845 46 47.
• Pharmacies – Your local pharmacist can provide expert advice and treatment for a range of common health problems.
• GP – Make your GP practice your first port of call for advice, guidance and treatment.
• Lever Chambers Walk-in Centre –  A nurse-led service, with no appointment needed. Open 8.30am to 4.40pm during the Bank Holiday weekend, and 8.30am to 5.30pm on 29 April
• A&E or 999 – A&E departments and the 999 ambulance service should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation.