The NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire is currently seeing a sharp rise in people seeking help and support for common winter conditions that can often be managed at home through effective self-care.
With this current wave of flu cases expected to peak in the next few days, people across the region who find themselves under the weather are being urged to practise effective self-care.
Flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, fevers and sore throats, can be easily managed at home through a combination of resting, staying hydrated and making use of common medicine box items, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
As antibiotics are ineffective against flu, people seeking healthcare advice should avoid calling their GP practice and instead make use of NHS 111 online, which is available at www.111.nhs.uk.
Connie Timmins, Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Illnesses such as flu, along with coughs, colds and sore throats, are common at this time of year, and we’re currently seeing that play out across our region.
“While it’s important for people not to ignore their symptoms, the best remedies are often those that take place in the home, such as staying in bed, drinking lots of water and regularly taking paracetamol.
“When more people come forward and seek help for minor symptoms, it often prevents our frontline teams from getting to those patients most in need, and that is what we are seeing happen right now.
“With new year celebrations upon us, we’re also advising partygoers who begin to feel unwell, either with flu-like symptoms or those that could be norovirus, to avoid going out and to welcome in 2025 at home.”
Pharmacies across the region are open as usual again following the Christmas bank holidays, and can provide help and support for most minor seasonal conditions.
Medication for a number of common illnesses, including sinusitis, urine infections and shingles, can now be prescribed by a pharmacist, meaning people with symptoms that could be one of these conditions no longer have to make an appointment with their GP practice.
People who find themselves in genuine need of emergency care, such as those with chest pains, significant bleeding or broken bones, should not put off visiting the closest hospital emergency department or calling an ambulance via 999.
Further information on how to care for flu at home can be found on the national NHS website, which is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu.
How to treat flu at home: There are things people can do to help get better more quickly. These include:
- Resting and sleeping
- Keeping warm
- Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower body temperature and to soothe aches and pains
- Giving paracetamol or ibuprofen to children when distressed or uncomfortable
- Drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration
- Speaking to a pharmacist, who can help with flu
Antibiotics: Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as flu. GPs do not recommend antibiotics for flu because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
When to seek urgent help: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 when:
- Worried about a baby's or child's symptoms
- A person is 65 or over
- A person is pregnant
- A person has a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a condition that affects heart, lungs, kidneys, brain or nerves
- A person has a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV
- Symptoms do not improve after seven days
Visit www.bsw.icb.nhs.uk for more information
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