People across Forth Valley are being encouraged to plan ahead to help stay healthy over the festive period.

The national ’Healthy Know How’ campaign encourages people to prepare for winter, provides tips on how to safely manage common winter illnesses at home and provides details of where to access further health advice, if required.

Tips to keep well this winter include:

• Plan ahead if you have prescriptions – order only what you need and pick them up in plenty of time before the festive holidays.
• Be prepared for common winter illnesses and ensure you have some over-the-counter remedies available at home, so you have them at hand if you need them.
• Know how to check your symptoms if you do become unwell. The NHS Inform website (https://www.nhsinform.scot/symptoms-and-self-help) has self-help guides and symptom checkers for many common health conditions to help you get the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible. These include advice on flu-like illnesses, coughs, fevers, stomach pain, vomiting, headaches and sore throats as well as information and advice on mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
• Visit the Winter Zone on NHS Forth Valley’s website nhsforthvally.com/winter for details of local health services and support over the winter period, including local pharmacy opening times during the festive public holidays.

Andrew Murray, NHS Forth Valley’s Medical Director, said: ““Winter is always a challenging time for health services, however, by planning ahead and taking a few simple steps in the run up to the festive period, we can all do our bit to help support the NHS at this busy time of year.

“If you or a family member take’s prescribed medication, make sure there is enough medication to last over the festive holidays. If you need more, please order in plenty of time to ensure your GP surgery and pharmacy have time to organise the prescription, and don’t forget to pick it up before the start of the holidays.

“It’s also a good idea to keep some over-the-counter medicines at home to deal with common winter illnesses so you have them to hand if you need them. If you are unfortunate enough to become ill, you can access health information and advice by visiting the NHS inform website or by calling their helpline on 0800 22 44 88.”

“I’d also encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible as this is the best way to protect yourself and your family against Covid-19 and flu this winter.

Additional Information

NHS Inform

• For health information and advice visit nhsinform.scot and www.nhsinform.scot/winter for advice on how to stay healthy and well this winter, including vaccinations, how to manage common winter illnesses and ways to keep warm.
• If you become unwell you can check your symptoms and get advice on what to do and who and who to call at nhsinform.scot/symptoms-and-self-help
• For mental wellbeing and support visit nhsinform.scot/mental-wellbeing or see the mental health self-health guides at www.nhsinform.scot/symptoms-and-self-help and www.nhsinform.scot/mind-to-mind/
• If you have a question about your health or local NHS services you can phone the NHS Inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (Mon – Fri from 8.00am to 6.00pm)

NHS 24 – 111

• Call NHS 24 free on 111 for urgent care if you think you need A&E but it’s not something life threatening, support if you’re in mental health distress, and advice when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
• The 111 service is suitable for anyone who may need to visit ED but doesn’t have a life threatening condition, as well as those looking for advice when GPs or dentists are unavailable.

 NHS Forth Valley – Winter Zone

• Visit nhsforthvalley.com/winter for details of local services and support over the winter period, including local pharmacy opening times during the festive public holidays.