SELF HELP ADVICE AND TOOLS
For 24/7 general medical advice telephone 111 or visit the NHS 111 website.
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NHS Health A-Z | |
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Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods. Information on how the health and social care system works. Sign posting you to the most appropriate service/s. |
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NHS Tools, Apps and Podcasts | |
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A wide range of NHS approved healthcare apps to help you monitor your conditions or achieve your goals. for example fitness, smoking, alcohol, weight loss, pregnancy, depression, blood pressure, sexual health, etc. |
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Patient | |
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Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods.
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Self help connect uk | |
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National self help forum support groups
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Search over 500 Patient Information Leaflets as well as details of 2000+self-help/patient support groups and similar organisations.
Air Pollution
- Air pollution impacts us all. It can move from your lungs into your bloodstream and reach many organs in the body.
- If you suffer from long term lung disease including asthma or COPD, heart and circulatory disease, diabetes, dementia or are pregnant, you may be more vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution.
- Find health expert approved guidance with simple steps that you can take to tackle air pollution and protect your health at cleanairhub.org.uk
Back Pain
• Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year.
• Symptoms usually respond to 24 hours rest lying on a firm bed followed by gentle exercise and return to normal activities.
• Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will help to relieve pain and local heat from a hot water bottle may also help.
• Avoid straining your back while exercising and take great care with lifting even when the pain has subsided
• When sitting, an upright chair with support for the small of the back lessens strain on the spine.
• If the pain does not start to improve within a few days, then consult your doctor for advice.
Insect Bites and Stings
• Most need no treatment.
• Anti-histamine tablets and/or cream can be obtained from the chemist without prescriptions and will relieve most symptoms.
Burns
• Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and continue until the pain subsides: but running cold water is the most effective.
• This may take some time. If the skin is unbroken but blisters, apply a loose dry dressing.
• If the burn is larger than 10cm (4 inches) in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
• Do not use creams such as Germoline or Savlon
Chicken Pox
• On the first day a rash appears with small red spots.
• Within a few hours these develop small blisters at the centre.
• Over the next 3 or 4 days further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off.
• Calamine lotion will soothe the itching and cool baths may help.
• The most infectious period is 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres, usually 7-10 days after the onset of the rash.
• Children may return to school as soon as the last crusts have dropped off.
• The incubation period of chicken pox is 14-21 days.
Children
The resources on the Healthier Together website (https://what0-18.nhs.uk/) have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
You'll find clear information on common illnesses, including advice on what serious 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep comfortable and how long symptoms are likely to last.
Colds and Flu
• These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and muscular aches.
• They are usually caused by viruses for which antibiotics will have no effect.
• Paracetamol helps the temperature and aches whilst decongestants and throat lozenges may also help to relieve symptoms.
• It is important to drink plenty of fluid, but do not worry if you do not eat for a few days - you will come to no harm
• However no more than eight paracetamols should be taken within any 24 hours
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
• In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting is usually caused by a virus.
• Treatment consists of replacing fluid lost with small amounts of water, or fizzy lemonade taken frequently and not eating for 24 hours.
• If the diarrhoea contains blood, if there is severe pain or high fever you should consult your doctor.
• Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and your doctor will be happy to advise you over the phone and arrange to see you if necessary.
• Elderly people and those with medical conditions (e.g. diabetes) should consult a doctor.
• Women taking the oral contraceptive pill may need to take extra precautions.
Hayfever
- Hayfever is usually worse between late March and September as this is when the pollen count hits high levels.
- Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing and coughing, itchy, red or watery eyes, headache, earache and feeling tired.
- You can't prevent hay fever but there are things you can do to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high;
- Try putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen and wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
- Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to remove pollen from your skin
- Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
- Speak to your pharmacist who can give advice and suggest the best treatments such as antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays.
- You can get more tips on managing hay fever from Allergy UK
Headlice
• These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene.
• Daily combing with a fine tooth comb after application of conditioner is also effective
Meningitis
• This is an infection of the covering of the brain and the most serious from is caused by the meningococcus bacteria and requires urgent medical attention.
• Warning signs include a "blood spot" rash that does not blanch under pressure, and neck stiffness.
• In infants there may be drowsiness, change in the cry, irritability, fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.
• In adults, as well as neck stiffness and rash there may be high temperature, vomiting, headache and back or joint pains
For further information please see the Meningitis Now website.
Blanch = press the side of a clear drinking glass onto the rash or bruises and checking that they fade.
Mental Health
Young People
• If you are aged between 13-25 years old and struggling with your mental health there is a service called Time2Talk who offer appointment only counselling. The number is 01327 706706.
• For many years’ Service Six has worked with young self-harmers. They have an award winning programme called OPAL, which is designed to offer help and support to young people who display self harming behaviour and their friends and families.
Adults
• Mental Health Hub Northamptonshire - 0800 448 0828 - lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Every month IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) help over 1,000 people in Northamptonshire who are struggling with their mental health. This service is available to anyone aged over 17 and a half and is registered with a GP in Northamptonshire. Call 0300 999 1616 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday) to self-refer to the service or you can find more information here
• The Feeling Good app has an evidence based audio programme titled "Feeling Good for Life". This programme can help relax & calm your mind and body, lift your mood, help you feel more positive, let go of worries, sleep better and deal with stresses more easily.
It can also help with physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, IBS, fatigue and chronic pain.
Download the app for free from the Apple App or Google Play store to try out the free content and if you find this helpful, contact the surgery on info.ahmp@nhs.net for the details to unlock further content.
The Feeling Good app is accredited by NHS digital - a mark of its effectiveness, safety and good function.
• You can also visit mind.org.uk for advice and support which is a charity supporting people who struggle with mental health.
Veterans
If you’re a veteran of the armed forces, your time in service can impact on your long term wellbeing. The NHS offers support to veterans of the armed forces.
Nose Bleeds
• Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped.
• If the bleeding continues or if your are taking blood-thinning tablets (anticoagulants): consult your doctor.
• Avoid blowing your nose for 48 hours and hot food and drink for 24 hours.
• Apply a cold compress (e.g. a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a wet tea towel) to reduce swelling: then apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.
Sunburn
• Try to prevent this by avoiding exposure to the sun in the heat of the day and using sun screens.
• Treat sunburn by cooling the skin with cool water or calamine lotion and take Paracetamol or anti-histamine tablets as necessary.
Temperature
• A raised temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections.
• In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and they should be given Paracetamol syrup which may be bought from the chemist.
• If they are still feverish they should be gently sponged with tepid water as in a bath or shower to cool them (this may take up to 20 minutes)
• If a temperature is very high and does not come down with this treatment or the child appears very unwell you should consult your doctor.
• A child or adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being brought by car or by pram to the surgery.
