Taking care over the festive period

Be aware of health services on offer and where is open

NHS Hounslow is gearing up for the winter break by reminding residents to be prepared during the festive period.

Between Christmas and New Year there are still many services on hand to help if you do fall ill. Here are some of the options to choose from in Hounslow:

Your local pharmacy - many offer bank holiday services. Pharmacists are qualified experts in the use of medicines and can give advice on common symptoms, medicines and healthy living. See when your nearest pharmacy is open here www.hounslowpct.nhs.uk/hpct_OutofhoursPharmacies.html

NHS Direct - 24 hour helpline for absolutely any health enquiry 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

NHS walk-in centre your local one at The Heart of Hounslow — for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, without an appointment open 8am-8pm 7 days a week. It is even open on Christmas day!

GP — most regular GP surgeries will be closed after Friday, 24 December and will not reopen until Wednesday, 29 December so check in advance which days your GP practice will be open to provide routine or urgent healthcare by contacting them directly. If you need assistance outside of practice opening hours that cannot wait until the surgery reopens then call Hounslow’s GP out of hours service (Harmoni) on 0845 850 1932. Alternatively, you can use the walk-in centre at The Heart of Hounslow, open every day 8am-8pm

NHS Hounslow and London Borough of Hounslow’s, Joint Director of Public Health Dr Mike Robinson said: “We are supporting residents to help you decide where to go if you need medical attention. The Choose well campaign runs again this year and explains what each NHS service does, and when it should be used.”

Mike added: “We know a lot of people go to A&E with problems that aren’t life threatening – often it’s because people aren’t sure of the best place to go or which services are open. The Choose Well campaign aims to raise awareness of the range of services available, particularly when they need help urgently, so that people can judge the best place to get help for symptoms and illnesses. The local emergency department or A&E should be used by patients who have a serious illness or have had a life threatening accident.”

More information can be found on our winter health page here /www.hounslowpct.nhs.uk/winter.html

General NHS information can be found at www.hounslowpct.nhs.uk or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NHShounslow , join the facebook group http://bit.ly/NHSHounslowFB.  

December 23, 2010