Winter Health Advice

• Check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time.
• If you become unwell see the symptom checkers and self-help guides on NHS Inform for advice.
• Get details of local clinics and pharmacies offering Winter Vaccinations to protect you and your family this winter.
• If you need health advice or treatment then find out how to get the right care in the right place, as quickly as possible. 

---

Winter Vaccinations

Experts are predicting the worst flu season in a decade this winter with unusually high levels of flu activity, particularly among children and older people.

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect yourself, your family and friends this winter. Details of local vaccination clinics and pharmacies offering winter vaccinations, including the flu vaccine, can be found online or call NHS Forth Valley’s vaccination team on 0800 130 3120.  Remember it takes around 10 days for vaccines to give you maximum protection so the sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you will be protected.

---

Local Pharmacies

All local pharmacies across Forth Valley offer health consultations and can provide free medication for many common health conditions under the Pharmacy First service. These include coughs, urine infections, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, indigestion and emergency contraception.

A number of local pharmacists are also able to prescribe free medication, including antibiotics, for a wider range of more complex clinical conditions including chest infections, ear infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis and many other conditions which could avoid the need to visit your GP Practice under the Pharmacy First Plus service.

Pharmacy Opening Times – Festive Public Holidays

For more information visit the Your Local Pharmacy section of our Guide to Local Services.

---

Help When You’re Unwell or Need Health Advice

Visit NHSInform.scot for:

• For health information and advice on a wide range of illnesses and injuries
• Symptom checkers and self-help guides for flu-like illnesses, sore throats and stomach pain, vomiting and headaches
• Support for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks
• Details of how to access medication if your supplies have run out

If you are unsure which service is right for you, visit our Guide to Local Services for details of local services or phone the NHS Inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (Mon – Fri from 8.00am to 6.00pm)

---

Minor Injuries, Illnesses or Urgent Health Advice

Call NHS 24 first on 111 if:

• Think you need to attend A&E but it is not something life threatening
• Have a minor injury such as a suspected broken bone, a sprain, a cut that needs stitches or a minor burn
• Need urgent care, and your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed, and you are too ill to wait until it reopens
• Need support with mental health distress

NHS 24 staff will help you get the right care in the right place, often closer to home and without the need to go to A&E. This may include a phone or video consultation with a healthcare professional or an appointment at a local healthcare facility, so you don’t have to wait to be seen.

If it’s a life-threatening emergency, you should phone 999 or go directly to A&E.

---

Dental Practices

If you’re experiencing dental problems such as tooth pain, swollen or bleeding gums, or an injury to your mouth contact your local dental practice for advice.

If you’re not registered with a dentist, contact the NHS Forth Valley Dental Helpline on 01324 614670 (Monday to Friday, 08.00-16.30), visit NHS inform or for dental emergencies call NHS 24 on 111.

For more information visit the Dental Service section of our Guide to Local Services.

---

Opticians

If you’re experiencing eye problems such as a red or sticky eye, blurred vision, or flashes and floaters, please contact your local optometrist.

They have the training and specialist equipment to assess and treat a wide range of eye problems and can refer you direct to hospital if the problem is more serious.

For more information visit the Eye Problems section of our Guide to Local Services or visit NHS Inform for advice on common eye problems.

---

Mental Health Advice & Support

For mental health information and support visit NHS Inform or see our Mental Health & Wellbeing section.

You can also call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 (Monday – Thursday 6.00pm to 2.00am and weekends Friday 6.00pm to Monday 6.00am).

If you need urgent mental health support, you can visit NHS Inform , contact your GP Practice Team or call NHS 24 on 111.

---

GP Practice Teams

GP Practices across Scotland are dealing with very high levels of demand and are working hard to prioritise appointments for patients who need to be seen urgently. However, you can also see a wider range of healthcare professionals at your GP Practice, including physiotherapists, mental health workers and Advanced Nurse Practitioners so you might not always need to see a GP.

For more information visit the GP Practice Team section of our Guide to Local Services.

---

Emergency Department

Only go to A&E if you need urgent medical care for a critical emergency such as a suspected heart attack, stroke or excessive bleeding. If your condition isn’t life-threatening, you should call NHS 24 free on 111, day or night, to access the right care.

If it’s a life-threatening emergency, you should phone 999 or go directly to A&E.

---

Local Community and Financial Advice

Clackmannanshire Council has winter advice and, in the event of severe weather if you need to contact them about a problem, contact their Customer Services team on 01259 450000 or email customerservice@clacks.gov.uk Details of benefits and support with employment and training can also be found on their website.

Falkirk Council has winter advice and their emergency helpline can be contacted on 01324 506070. If your call is not an emergency you can email them via contact.centre@falkirk.gov.uk  They also provide a range of advice and support for residents, including help with energy costs and grants. You can contact their Debt Advice Team on 01324 506735 or email debtadvice@falkirk.gov.uk

Stirling Council has winter service advice, including grit bins and routes. You can contact the council via their website’s enquiry form or call them on 01786 404040. They also provide advice and support on welfare benefits, money and debt advice services.

Advice on energy and household bills, work and benefits, debt and money advice, support for children and families, older or disabled people. Find out more on the Cost of Living support website.

Could you, or someone you know, be missing out on Pension Credit? Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. Visit GOV.uk to find out if you qualify for extra help.

---

Weather and Travel Advice

Sign up to receive the latest weather warnings in your area directly from the Met Office. Or download their app for the latest information where you are. To help get the most out of their advice, you may wish to learn more about their warning system, e.g. what the colour of each type of warning means.

If you’re travelling by road, Traffic Scotland host an interactive map which provides information on all incidents, roadworks, travel warnings and more on Scotland’s major roads. You can also check live traffic cameras across the country to monitor road conditions before you set off.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) offers a live flood update service called Floodline. If you live in a flood-risk area or are concerned about flooding, you can sign up for free flood warnings by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or by visiting their signup page.

Get the latest updates on your rail route with ScotRail’s live network map. Check the service on a single route, or see the whole network at a glance. Make sure you also sign up for JourneyCheck alerts on your regular journeys.

Think about how you’re going to get home when you’re out and about during the festive season, before you head out – and remember to consider any journeys the morning after. Even if you’re slightly over the limit, in the eyes of the law you are a criminal. There’s no grey area. Find out more at Road Safety Scotland.

Ready Scotland provides advice on preparing for severe weather including cold, snow and ice and storms and wind as well as rain and flooding. Their website also contains information and advice for individuals, groups and local businesses on how to prepare for emergencies and disruption.

---

Protect Your Home

If you are experiencing an unexpected loss of supply or emergency, you can check if it is on the Latest In Your Area map on the Scottish Water website. You can report any new problems, on their dedicated portal.

If you experience loss of power, call 105, which will connect you to the correct network operator for your region. You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put you, or someone else, in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, you should call the emergency services too.

Police Scotland have a lot of good festive safety information on their website. Remember, the 101 number is to be used for non-emergencies when contacting the police and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, dial 999.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have some good advice on Winter safety at home including checking your smoke and heat alarms are working, replacing batteries if necessary.

Home Energy Scotland is an advice service funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust. People in Scotland can get advice about creating a warmer, more energy efficient home and reducing energy bills, as well as financial support, including grants and 0% loans.