The NHS App gives you access to a wide range of NHS services. Download the NHS App from Google Play or the Apple Store.
Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor's appointment.
It is estimated that 50 million visits to GP Surgeries are made annually for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot. By utilising other avenues such as self-care and visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble and reduce pressure on NHS services.
For a lot of common illnesses and ailments there is no specific cure, and they will be relieved with time and simple remedies available without prescription. Therefore, please do not expect your doctor to prescribe a drug for every problem. Discussion and advice may be far more useful and free from side effects.
We feel it is important that all households should keep a reasonably stocked supply of over the counter medicines at home to deal with minor ailments. Remember, all medicines should be stored in a box or cupboard with a lock and kept well out of the reach of children. Always check the expiry date on medicines and do not keep them for future use, as they lose their effect or become dangerous.
You can also visit your local pharmacy for help and advice when you have a minor illness or ailment.
NHS online resources
The NHS A-Z of Health and the NHS 111 symptom checker will help you decide if you can use self-care or if you need to see a clinician.
The symptom checker is also available in NHS app - a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the app to:
- check your symptoms
- get instant advice
- book appointments
- order repeat prescriptions
- view your GP medical record and more.
The NHS App is free to download from the Apple Store and Google Play.
There are also self-help guides for the self-care of common conditions including earache, abdominal pain and headache on the NHS UK website, and information about caring for yourself at home if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or Flu.
Can you treat yourself at home?
A well stocked medicine cabinet can treat many day to day illnesses. Small doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen for example can treat many common illnesses such as colds, sore throats and coughs. It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription. Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.
Have you spoken with your pharmacist?
Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses. Your pharmacist can also advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet.
Pharmacists can also advise on healthy eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest you visit your GP for more serious symptoms.
Pharmacists can also now prescribe drugs without you needing a doctor's appointment for several common conditions, including earache, impetigo, urinary tract infections and sinusitis. Find out more by visiting our Think Pharmacy First page.
Have you tried calling NHS 111?
NHS 111 is a 24 hour a day health information and advice service staffed by professional health advisers and nurses. They offer free, confidential advice on what to do if you are ill, and provide information on a range of conditions and services, and can put you in contact with your local health, self-help & support organisations and refer you to your out-of-hours doctors service when your surgery is closed.
Ring NHS 111 by dialling 111. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
