City’s health leaders remind people to plan ahead for Christmas

NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation which plans the city’s health services, is reminding people to remember to order their repeat prescriptions, ahead of the festive period.    

Dr Fiona Lemmens, a Liverpool GP and Chair for NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:

“In the lead up to Christmas Day, many of us are busy buying last-minute presents and planning for Christmas gatherings, but thinking about your health now could also help ensure a much more relaxing Christmas holiday.

“If you take medicine on a regular basis to help manage a long-term condition, like high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma – now is the time to check that you have enough medication left to last you throughout Christmas and New Year.

She adds, “Don’t risk being caught short over the Bank Holidays, when your normal GP practice will be closed. Make sure that you leave enough time to order and collect any repeat prescriptions you might need before Christmas Eve.”

No one wants to be ill, especially over Christmas, but the colder weather at this time of year can be really bad for your health - especially if you have a long-term condition, or are aged 65 or over.

Three simple tips that can help you to stay well include:

• Having a flu jab – the vaccine is free on the NHS for pregnant women, those aged 65 or over, those with long-term conditions, and carers. Ask at your GP practice, if you think you are eligible
• Keeping a well-stocked medicine cupboard - to help you treat coughs, colds, sore throats and other minor ailments at home. Most coughs and colds get better by themselves within 5-10 days, without the need for an appointment. A pharmacist can offer you lots of advice on what’s good to have in.
• Seeking help fast – If you have a long-term condition or chronic health problem, seek help from a professional as soon as you start to feel unwell, rather than waiting until it gets more serious.

It’s also really important to make sure that you know where to go for urgent health advice and treatment over the Christmas period, in case you or a loved one does suddenly become unwell.

Dr Lemmens continues, “If you need to see a health professional when your usual GP surgery is closed over Christmas, you can still see a local GP through the GP Out-of-Hours service by calling NHS 111 – including over evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.

“Don’t forget that you can also visit any of the city’s NHS Walk-in Centres for advice and treatment for a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries too. They are open from early until late every day, and you don’t need an appointment either - you can just walk in and be seen.”

All of the NHS Walk-in Centres in Liverpool will be open from 8am - 8pm every day throughout the Christmas period. The only exception is on Christmas Day itself, when Old Swan Walk in Centre and South Liverpool (Garston) Walk in Centre will be open, but Liverpool City Walk-in Centre and Smithdown Children’s Walk-in Centre will be closed.

For further details of which local pharmacies and NHS Walk-in Centres are open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and where to find them, click here.

For further advice on how to stay well over winter visit: www.nhs.uk/staywell