Coping with illness at Christmas

Minor illnesses - how to help yourself

Coughs, colds and other minor illnesses are common at Christmas, when people gather together and stay inside for long periods. But these types of illness don't need professional help and usually get better quickly. Hot drinks and simple painkillers, like paracetamol, can make you feel better while you recover. It's a good idea to make sure you have a small stock of painkillers and a first aid kit in the house, before the shops shut.

Prescription medicines

Anyone who takes regular prescription medicine should make sure they have enough to last over Christmas. It's especially important if you're going to be travelling away from home. Pharmacies can give you emergency supplies of prescription medicines in some circumstances, but it's best to have your own medication with you.

Getting advice and help

If you're worried about a medical problem when your local GP surgery is closed, call NHS Direct, on 0845 4647. In Scotland, call NHS 24 on 08454 242424. These services run 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

You'll speak to a nurse. He or she can advise you about the next steps to take. You may be able to wait until your local GP surgery is open again, or you might need to call the local GP out-of-hours service. The nurse might suggest you ask a pharmacist for advice about over-the-counter medicines. If it's an emergency, the nurse may tell you to go to your local accident and emergency department, or call 999.

Most GP practices will display information about their opening hours at the surgery and on their telephone answering service. If you call your GP surgery number, you will probably be redirected to the out-of-hours service, or hear a recorded message giving the out-of-hours service phone number.

When you call the out-of-hours service, you'll be asked for details about the medical problem. You may be asked to attend a walk-in treatment centre to see a GP, or you might be given telephone advice, or have a home visit from a GP. It probably won't be the GP you usually see.

If you need to find a pharmacy, your local primary care trust should have opening hours for the pharmacies in your area on their website. You can also find local pharmacies on the NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) and NHS 24 (www.nhs24.com) websites.

Local newspapers often publish details of pharmacy opening hours. Or try your local pharmacy; if they're not open, they may post details of the nearest pharmacy that is open over Christmas. Pharmacies aren't obliged to open on Bank Holidays, but many areas have voluntary rotas.

Medical emergencies

Calling 999 for an ambulance is just for emergencies, such as unconsciousness, severe bleeding, severe breathlessness or chest pain. Using 999 responsibly means ambulances will be able to reach real emergencies faster. Hospital accident and emergency departments will be open over Christmas. But remember, they are intended for medical emergencies. They are not usually the first place to go for medical help and advice. But if it is a medical emergency, don’t delay. Quick action can be crucial if someone is having a heart attack or other medical emergency.