Self care is about looking after yourself in a healthy way. It can be anything from brushing your teeth, doing some exercise, managing |
common conditions (also called minor ailments) like headaches, colds and flu or living with a long-term health problem, such as |
asthma or diabetes. |
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Did you know that one in five GP visits are for common conditions, such as backache, headache or cough? |
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For most people, these common conditions are not serious health problems – you just want to know how to relieve it and you want a |
treatment that acts fast. You also want to know how long you're going to suffer or, what you should do if your symptoms change. |
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The good news is that self care can help you manage most of these problems. It may mean you don't have to spend time waiting to |
see your GP and can get on with tackling your symptoms. Self care for common conditions can also help free up some of your GP's |
time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition. |
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Did you know? |
- One in every five GP visits are for common conditions, such as backache, headache or cough.
- Many patients visits their GP or Accident and Emergency department with common conditions which could have been treated with advice from their community pharmacist.
- Every time you see a GP it costs the NHS £36 on average.
- A visit to Accident and Emergency can cost up to £130.
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How self care helps your local NHS |
Many common conditions can be treated at home with the support of your local pharmacy if needed. Over the counter products for |
self care are things like pain relief and cough and cold remedies. These items can be bought from pharmacies, supermarkets and |
discount stores without a prescription. You can get them without an appointment or seeing a doctor. They are also often cheaper |
this way. |
- You will help ease the pressure on NHS services for common conditions that could be managed at home.
- You can help free up some of your GP or nurse's time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious or complex condition.
- You will help to reduce the amount spent by your local NHS on medicines that are available over the counter.
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Locally NHS East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen CCG no longer supports the routine prescribing of medications for common |
conditions such as acute (short-term) illnesses, minor and/or self-limiting conditions such as headache, coughs and colds. We want to |
encourage and empower patients to self care. "People have a responsibility to protect their own health, choosing appropriate treatments and managing long-term | conditions. In many cases people can take care of their minor ailments, reducing the number of GP consultations and allowing GPs | to focus on caring for more poorly patients, such as those with co-morbidities (more than one illness), the very young and elderly, | managing long-term conditions and providing new services. | A large range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home simply with over-the- counter medicines and plenty of rest." | | You can read our position statement here. | |