Sick? Choose well for the best treatment

LOCAL health chiefs have issued a guide to help Oldhamers make the right choice for treatment and ease pressure on NHS staff.

More people get ill or are injured during the festive season than at any other time of the year, meaning more trips to the surgery or casualty.

Shauna Dixon, director of clinical leadership for NHS Oldham, said: “Our aim is to explain what each NHS service does and when it should be used. Choosing well means people will get the best treatment they need this winter.

“We want to make sure busy NHS services are able to help the people who need them most.”

Here are the options:


Self-care

A lot of winter illnesses can be treated at home by over-the-counter medicines, drinking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest. This is the best choice for very minor illnesses and injuries.




NHS Direct

Confidential health advice by telephone, on the Internet and digital TV, 24 hours a day. Call 0845-4647 or see www.nhs.uk  

Contact NHS Direct if you are ill and have questions about health.


Pharmacist

Local pharmacists can give advice on common illnesses and medicines needed. Pharmacists can help when you are suffering from a health problem which does not need doctor.


GP

Appointments with a doctor can be made for medical advice, examinations and prescriptions. You should only make an appointment if you have an injury or illness that will not go away.

If you don’t have a GP, register with one before the holiday. Contact NHS Oldham on 0161-622 6500 for advice on registering.

If you need to see a doctor urgently when your surgery is closed you can contact Go To Doc on 0161-785 0805.


Oldham walk-in centre
Walk-in centres can treat minor illnesses and injuries and give advice.

Oldham’s centre is open 7am to 10.30pm every day and 10am to 6pm on Christmas Day. No appointment is necessary.

The walk-in centre is in John Street, just outside the town centre and opposite Aldi.

You should use the walk-in centre if you need medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to accident and emergency.


A&E or 999

Accident and Emergency departments are found at most hospitals — there is one at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

A&E departments are for people who show signs of being very ill or are badly injured, for example if someone is choking, has chest pain, is blacking out or has blood loss.

If you phone 999 and tell the operator that there is a medical emergency, a response vehicle will be sent to you.

Emergency services are very busy. They should only be used in very serious or life-threatening situations.