NHS support this winter

Help Us, Help You – some important information from the NHS to help you stay well this winter Stay well this winter  

Winter can be seriously bad for our health but there are a number of things you can do to keep you and your family well this winter. Visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for helpful tips and advice.

Ask your pharmacist

If you have a long-term health condition like COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or have suffered a stroke; cold weather can make health problems like these much worse. If you start to feel unwell, at the first signs of winter respiratory illness, even if it’s just a cough or cold, get advice from your pharmacist, before it gets more serious.

Flu vaccination

The free flu vaccination is offered to those who are at increased risk from the effects of flu. These include people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions and children (aged 2-9).  Ask your GP, pharmacist or midwife about the free flu vaccine.

Collect prescriptions

If you’ve been prescribed medication, don’t forget to pick up your prescription before the Christmas holidays start. Many GPs and pharmacies will close over the holidays.  Information about which pharmacies will be open on bank holidays will be available on the CCG websites: www.greaterhuddersfieldccg.nhs.uk / www.northkirkleesccg.nhs.uk  / www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk

Call 111

If you do need help over the holiday period when your GP surgery or pharmacy is closed, call NHS 111 to get the right medical attention urgently or visit www.nhs.uk which can direct you to a local service that is open.

Look out for your neighbours

Older neighbours, relatives, friends and other elderly members of the community are more vulnerable in the winter months and may need a bit of extra help this winter, so make sure you keep in touch, check if they are feeling under the weather, help them stock up on food supplies and make sure they have the necessary medication before the Christmas holidays start or a spell of bad weather.

If you could spare an hour each week for a chat and a cuppa, you can volunteer as an Age UK C&K Befriender, Visit our Volunteering page to download an Application Pack.

Age UK C&K home visit

To make sure your home is ready for winter, call us (tel: 01422 252040) and book a free home visit - we can provide lots of inofrmation about keeping warm and saving energy and install energy saving devices such as draught excluders and low energy light bulbs, all completely free of charge!