STAY WELL

Your local health team wants to help you stay as well as possible. They are here to support you and your family by offering care that’s right for you, near where you live.

If you need to contact your GP practice, you can do so in three ways: online, by phone, or in person.

However, there’s a lot you can do for yourself to keep safe and well. See our tips below.

Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet

You can treat very minor illnesses and injuries yourself at home.

Be prepared and, if you can, have over the counter medicines at home for common conditions such as a cold, indigestion, or diarrhoea. A first aid kit with items like plasters, a thermometer and antiseptic is also useful. Ask your pharmacist if you need advice and always remember to keep medicines locked away or out of the reach of children. Find a pharmacy.

Think Pharmacy First

Your high street pharmacist can provide expert advice on minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains. They can also give advice about how to use medicines.

Depending on your needs, you might find visiting their local pharmacy is quicker and more convenient than seeing your GP.

Your high street pharmacist can now prescribe medicines for the following conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment:

impetigo (a bacterial skin infection),
infected insect bites
earache (for those aged between 1 and 17)
sore throat
sinusitis
urinary tract infections (for women aged 16-64 years)
shingles

This is called Pharmacy First.

They can also provide free medicine for minor illnesses if you are eligible. Find out more: Self-care medicines scheme.

Many pharmacies are open on evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Find out more about how your local pharmacy can help you.

Keep active

There are many activities you could do at home to keep active, such as walking up and down stairs, dancing, gardening, housework, or taking part in online fitness classes. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it’s something you enjoy and keeps you moving. Try to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down during the day. Break up your time spent being inactive by walking around your home or standing up from your chair during TV advert breaks or when you’re on the phone.

You can find advice on how to stay active, lose weight, drink less and quit smoking on the NHS Better Health website.

For advice on keeping active in your borough visit:

Look after your mental health

There are little things we can all do to help look after our mental health. Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. You can find expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing on the Every Mind Matters website.

Information on how to get help if you or a child or young person in your care is experiencing a mental health crisis is available on our website.

More help on offer in your local area

We have included information about what support’s available in your local area below. Here you can find out about help on offer from local services including health, the cost of living, housing, and immigration.