Stay healthy this winter

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Community and hospital health professionals have joined forces to advise Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale residents to make the most of the full range of NHS services to help stay healthy this winter.

People with minor ailments can receive a wide range of advice and treatments at local pharmacists, GPs’ surgeries, and the Walk-in Centre on Whitehall Street.

In addition, NHS Direct, the nurse-led service, can provide advice via its website, digital TV channel or its 24-hour helpline 0845 4657.

And, with A&E departments becoming busier than normal, using this full range of services can save patients time in getting the treatment they need.

Dr Nick Dawes, local GP said: “It’s never been easier for people to get help with minor ailments from a very wide range of sources.

“NHS professionals working in the community can provide advice and treatment on literally hundreds of conditions. GPs are constantly increasing the range of services they offer. As part of the Pharmacy First scheme, local pharmacists, based in chemist shops, can diagnose and prescribe for a wide range of conditions, giving help on the spot.”

“We’ll be working hard to ensure that people are aware of opening times of local pharmacists and GPs over the festive season. Our winter health guide gives details and will be published in the local papers and posters and leaflets will be sent out across the Borough.”

“In addition to advising people on how to get the right treatment, in the right place, from the right health professional, we’ll be running advice campaigns giving more general information on how to stay healthy in the first place.”

Local services include:

• Pharmacist - From sprains to stomach upsets, your local pharmacist is qualified to give expert advice without an appointment. Most pharmacies can also offer medicines for some minor ailments without the need to go to your GP.
• GP’s surgery - For jabs, prescriptions, medical advice and care, make an appointment with your GP or practice nurse.
• Walk-in Centre - For common ailments and advice on what to do about non-urgent conditions. Open from: 7.00am – 10.00pm, Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 5.30pm, Weekends amp; Bank Holidays. 90 Whitehall Street, Rochdale, OL12 0ND.
• Out of Hours - For urgent healthcare and advice when your GP’s surgery is closed call BARDOC. Tel: 0161 763 4242. Open from 6pm to 8.00 am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday and bank holidays.

You can also find information on how to look after yourself and opening times of local pharmacies and GPs from the HMRPCT winter health guide.

Current health campaigns include:

The Keep Warm, Keep Well campaign

Run annually by the Department of Health, this gives advice on how to keep warm and healthy, plus accessing financial support. Older people and those with chronic diseases or physical disabilities are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. The campaign booklet gives advice on how to stay well during the winter by keeping warm and following a healthy lifestyle. Tips include having a hot drink before bed and regular hot meals, setting your thermostat at around 21C (70F) for the rooms you use in the day, and keeping active during the day. The booklet also gives details of what help is available, including financial support for home improvements and meeting the costs of heating bills. People can find out about financial support by calling the Warm Front Scheme on 0800 072 0151 and 08459 15 15 15 for information about Winter Fuel payments. More info from:

• www.direct.gov.uk/keepwarmkeepwell

The Catch It, Kill It, Bin It campaign

This campaign aims to highlight how everyone can play their part in stopping the spread of flu and cold germs. The campaign highlights three simple steps:

• Catch it - catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue.
• Bin it - get rid of your tissue in a bin or toilet as soon as possible.
• Kill it - clean your hands straight away to stop germs transferring on to anything, or anyone, else.

The annual flu jab campaign

The PCT’s local flu programme, which will run up to December, encourages people aged 65 to protect themselves against the illness. Others entitled to a free jab are children and people of any age with respiratory disease (including asthma), lung disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease or liver disease. People on medication which weakens their immune system, such as steroids, and those living in long stay residential care homes or other long stay care facilities, are also eligible.

Top 10 tips for keeping warm and well

It is essential to keep warm and well in winter and there are some simple measures you can take to stay healthy, live well and keep warm:

1. Insulate your home - To help reduce heat loss from your home, fit draught proofing, and insulate your walls and attic space. Grants are available from the Warm Front Scheme and your energy supplier.
2. Update and improve your heating system - Grants are available from the Warm Front Scheme for installing efficient and modern forms of gas central heating.
3. Get financial support - The Pension Service, the Warm Front Scheme and the Home Heat Helpline offer advice and help to increase energy-efficiency and reduce fuel bills. You should make sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to.
4. Heat well - Try to keep a temperature of 21°C in the main rooms you use during the day. Your bedroom should be kept above 18°C overnight. You may also want to use a hot water bottle or electric blanket (not both, for safety reasons) if your bedroom is cold at night.
5. Dress well - Wear plenty of layers and put on a good coat, hat, scarf and gloves when you go outside, to help you keep warm.
6. Eat well - Food is a vital source of warmth, so try to have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day.
7. Keep moving - Moving around is good for your health and generates extra body heat, so any exercise or activity will help keep you warm. If possible, try and move around at least once an hour.
8. Stop smoking - Stopping smoking will boost your health for the winter, reduce your chances of a heart attack and improve your body’s circulation.
9. Get a flu jab - A flu jab is available free from your doctor if you are 65 or over, or if you have a serious respiratory condition, heart, kidney or liver disease, diabetes or lowered immunity or if you have had a stroke.
10. Keep safe and look out for neighbours - Service your heating system and sweep your chimney annually, and check safety measures on gas appliances to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have an elderly neighbour or relative, keep an eye out for them in the winter months and make sure they are safe and well.