Happy Christmas and Choose well.

It is that time of the year, where a well build man in a red suit somehow gets down your chimney and empties his sack under your Christmas tree. At any other time of the year this would be considered weird, but it's Christmas time. 

What else would be considered as weird is calling an ambulance for a cold. However it Christmas, and the GP and Everywhere is closed.

Well that is not true. The country does not complete stop for the festive days. Health care still works. There are different ways to get help this Christmas time.

Self care. For little things you can help yourself and save setting foot outside the house. Like making sure you have some bits in the cupboard.

• Paracetamol or aspirin
• Cold and flu tablets or drinks. (not to be used together) 
• Anti-diarrhoeal medicine
• Rehydration mixture
• Plasters
• Thermometer

  Pharmacists, They don't just pack up your tablets into a bag. They can provide advice on common winter illnesses and the best medicines to treat them, and usually have them ready for you to buy. Plus it saves you from having to book an appointment to be seen by a nurse or a doctor.

 NHS Direct, is a service that you can get online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk where you can check your symptoms and the best treatment. If you want a reassuring voice at the end of the phone. you can also call them on 0845 46 47.

Minor Injuries Units, are where you can See an experienced nurse for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses, like cuts, sprains, infected wounds or everyday eye infections. Information on Shropshire MIU can be found at  www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk/minor-injury-unit or if you are outside Shropshire, search Minor Injuries unit online.

Walk –in Health Centres, are like GP. but without the booking. Information on Shropshire ones can be found at www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk/walk-in-centre

GP Surgeries or GP Out of Hours, If it is something you would go to your GP about, why not give them a call and see if they are open. If not There is ShropDoc, The GP Out of Hours service for Shropshire. You can contact them on 08444 06 8888.  
  
A&E/ 999, If it is critical or life-threatening, then that where the hard working staff of A&E and West Midlands Ambulance Service can help. They specialise in serious illness and badly injured people. 

So with a blog post about choosing your medical help carefully. I will say my usually line after leaving you with an Joke from my bad joke Emporium.

My mate went to Iceland to see the northern light, But all he could see was frozen food.

Till next time Dear Reader, Stay Safe.

Please Note this is not medical advice. It is intended to show what else is out there beside WMAS and A&E