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Local NHS services over winter period
Local NHS services should be running as normal but to help you and your families stay as well as possible, here are some simple steps to follow.
NHS services are dealing with challenges on four fronts this winter from rising cases of COVID, winter vomiting bugs, respiratory (breathing) illnesses and flu which has already seen more than a trebling of hospital admissions compared to the same week last year.
Our colleagues at HCT and in local NHS services across the East of Englad are working hard to treat everyone who really needs NHS services.
To help prevent avoidable illness, and ensure that NHS services are there for those who need them, please follow this advice:
- Make sure that you and your family are up to date with flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations. These vaccines are especially important for older people, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. Go to https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/ for more information about the different types of vaccinations, who is eligible and how to get your vaccine. Don’t delay – get protected.
- If you or your family get the norovirus bug that causes sickness and diarrhoea, treat this at home with plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids. Reduce the spread by washing your hands frequently with soap and water – hand gels won’t kill norovirus. Stay at home and especially stay away from care homes, hospitals and social occasions until you’ve been clear of symptoms for at least two days. You will still be very infectious until then.
- If you or a loved one are very unwell get medical advice straight away. Early help can prevent hospital admissions and save lives. If you need help for a minor concern, see if your local pharmacy is open as they can often help when GP practices are closed. Contact NHS 111 free for urgent help or if you’re unsure. Don’t forget the mental health support on offer via NHS 111 – choose option 2 when you get through.
For the NHS, this time of year is one of the busiest.
Visit your GP practice's website to find out when your GP surgery is open, if you need help with an ongoing health issue.
Information on keeping well this winter
- Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes: Visit the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes winter health and wellbeing hub
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Visit the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough winter health and wellbeing hub
- Hertfordshire and west Essex: Visit the Hertfordshire and west Essex winter health and wellbeing hub
- Mid and South Essex: Visit the Mid and south Essex winter health and wellbeing hub
- Norfolk and Waveney: Visit the Norfolk and Waveney winter health and wellbeing hub
- Suffolk and north east Essex : Visit the Suffolk and north east Essex winter health and wellbeing hub.
Pharmacy opening times
For minor illness or concerns you can walk into a pharmacy and ask to see a pharmacist who can offer appropriate advice, treatment and support for the following minor illnesses and health issues:
- Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- Sore throats (aged 5 years and over)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women (aged 16 to 64 years)
If the pharmacist cannot help or believe your symptoms need to be looked at further, you will be directed to your GP practice or another health care professional.
Find a pharmacy open near you on the NHS website.
