Right care right place

To protect us and the NHS, it’s important you know how to get the right care, in the right place. You can find more information at www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/right-care-right-place/.

Every year, millions of us visit our GP Practice with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without an appointment.

It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP Practice are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot. By visiting a Pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.

Self Care

Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments. Colds, coughs, indigestion and many other minor complaints can all be treated with medicines that are available over the counter. Many medicines can also be purchased from a supermarket at a low cost.

Your pharmacist can advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet. Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.

Pharmacy First

There are a variety of illnesses which the Pharmacy can provide advice and treatment for. Take a look at www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/pharmacy/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland for more information, or visit any Pharmacy.

Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses. They can answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines.

Pharmacists can also advise on health eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest you visit your GP Practice for more serious symptoms. It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription.

Accident and Emergency (A&E)

Major A&E departments assess and treat patients who have serious injuries or illnesses. Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for emergencies, such as:

Involved in a road traffic accident
Breathing difficulties
If you are elderly/frail and have had a fall
Symptoms of a stroke (call 999)
Any head injury
Chest pain (call 999)
Collapse/loss of consciousness
Seizures
Suicidal/severe distress
Overdose of any medication
Assault
Potential broken bone

A&E departments offer access 365 days a year and usually open 24 hours a day. Be aware that not all hospitals have an A&E department.

Acute diarrhoea is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection and affects almost everyone from time to time.

A common cause in both children and adults is gastroenteritis, an infection of the bowel.

Bouts of diarrhoea in adults may also be brought on by anxiety or drinking too much coffee or alcohol. Diarrhoea may also be a side effect of a medication.

More information on how to manage this is available at:

https://eric.org.uk/childrens-bowels/

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/diarrhoea/.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/constipation/

Adults

Most flu-like illness, coughs, colds and sore throats, including most coronavirus infections, are self-limiting, but can cause unpleasant symptoms for up to 2-3 weeks.

The immune system is generally strong enough to fight the infection, especially if there are no underlying health conditions.

The mainstay of treatment is rest to support the immune system, fluids to prevent dehydration and remedies including paracetamol to help relieve the symptoms (available from Pharmacies and supermarkets).

Antibiotics are generally not needed nor effective against viral illness and can be associated with significant side effects. More information can be found at https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-wasnt-i-prescribed-antibiotics.

Further information on how to manage breathlessness can be found at https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/breathlessness-and-breathing-difficulties-dyspnoea/controlled-breathing-pursed-lips-breathing, including how to relieve symptoms.

If your symptoms do not improve after 10 days, contact your GP Practice.

Children

When young children catch a cold, they often develop a 'noisy chest' or 'chesty cough'. This is because they have smaller airways and thinner rib cages than adults. A cough can last for up to 3 weeks and helps the body fight infection.

Children with a serious infection will generally become more unwell. E.g. more sleepy, irritable, rapid breathing or working harder to breathe, cold/discoloured hands and feet with a warm body, look pale, high temperature (40 or above), are off their food and not drinking.

A child's immune system is very powerful and will clear up most infections, viral and bacterial, by itself.

Plenty of rest and fluids helps support the immune system and prevent dehydration, loosen phlegm and lubricate the throat.

Pain and fever are best treated with paracetamol and/or ibuprofen - both available from any Pharmacy and supermarket.

Antibiotic treatment is sometimes helpful in bacterial infection but are ineffective against viral illness.

More information can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/lungs-and-airways/if-your-child-has-cold-or-flu-symptoms/

Chronic pain can be debilitating.

Medicines management is only one aspect of chronic pain management. More information about living with chronic pain can be found at:

https://my.livewellwithpain.co.uk/

https://painassociation.co.uk/

https://ppa.csp.org.uk/content/keeping-active

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/chronic-pain/

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/brain-nerves-and-spinal-cord/chronic-pain/living-with-chronic-pain/

Back pain is very common and affects over 80% of the general population at some point in their life.

It can be very uncomfortable and distressing.

The good news is most back pain is not due to any serious damage or disease. This type of pain generally comes from the muscles, ligaments or joints in your lower back. They can be strained like any other body part and will take a while to settle.

Your back is a strong and stable structure that is designed for movement, therefore, normal activities will not produce any damage. Keeping yourself moving and continuing with most daily activities will help to keep the muscles and joints working normally as possible.

Top tips:

You will likely find it helpful to rest a bit more but it is still important to keep active. This will help to avoid becoming stiff and your muscles becoming weak.
If you aim to get a balance between rest and activity, it should help your pain to settle down. You may be sore at first, however, start slowly and gradually increase the amount you do.
Reduce movements or tasks that aggravate your symptoms. This can help especially in the early days.
Adopting positions or movements that reduce your can be useful.

Further information, including useful exercises, is available at:

https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/back-and-spine-pain/lower-back-pain

https://patient.info/news-and-features/video-back-pain-exercises

You can also self refer to MSK Physiotherapy at https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/physiotherapy-msk/ for further advice.