Get the best treatment
By making the right choice at the right time, you can get the best possible treatment through the NHS.
You can easily take care of many everyday illnesses at home, while advice is freely available from pharmacists, NHS Direct on 0845 4647 and the NHS Choices website.
Next time you or a family member are feeling unwell, and you are not sure what to do, use this handy checklist to help you decide.
Can you treat yourself at home?
Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments and cuts and bruises and your pharmacist can advise you on what to keep in your cabinet. You can take care of colds, coughs, indigestion, cuts and bruises and many other minor complaints with medicines or kits that are available over the counter. Always, consult your doctor if the problem persists or becomes more severe. You can now find the NHS Direct self care guide ‘Not feeling well?’ at the back of your new Thomson Local directory. It contains advice on treating over 25 common adult and child health problems.
Have you visited your pharmacist or chemist?
The NHS offers a whole host of different services and your local pharmacist is just one. Pharmacists offer qualified free health advice at any time, appointments are not usually necessary. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses and cuts and bruises. They can answer questions about prescribed and over the counter medicines. Pharmacists can also advise on healthy eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have semi-private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest a visit to the GP for more serious symptoms.
Search for local pharmacists
Have you called NHS Direct?
NHS Direct is a 24 hour confidential telephone service on 0845 4647. You can ring for nurse advice if you are feeling ill and are unsure what to do, or for health information on particular conditions such as diabetes and allergies. You can call NHS Direct to find out your nearest GP, pharmacist, dentist or support group and to access your local provider out-of- hours care. For deaf people, a textphone service is available on 0845 606 4647. If English is not your preferred language, you can choose to use a confidential interpretation service.
You might find it useful to visit the NHS Direct Online website.
Visit NHS Direct Online on the internet at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk for health advice and information for you and your family. There's a self-help guide to treat common health problems at home; an encyclopaedia covering hundreds of illnesses and conditions; information about operations and treatments; and frequently asked questions on popular health topics. You can also search for your nearest pharmacist, NHS Walk-in Centre, doctor or dentist in a directory of local health services.
Do you need to visit your GP’s surgery?
Your local GP surgery provides a range of services, including general medical advice and treatment; prescriptions; referral to a specialist or hospital (where appropriate); jabs and tests (such as immunisations, blood tests or cervical smears). Remember to tell your doctor if you have tried or are already taking other medicines. If you need medical assistance outside of surgery hours, ring your surgery, or NHS Direct, to obtain the number of your local provider of out-of-hours care.
It’s never been easier to register with a local doctor (GP), so make sure you register today. Find out more about registering with a GP. You can find your nearest GP on the NHS Choices website or by calling Southwark Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 587 7170, or by visiting your local library.
John Harvard
211 Borough High Street, SE1 1JA
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Peckham Library
122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Dulwich Library
368 Lordship Lane, SE22 8NB
Tel: 020 7525 2000
Seeing a specialist
If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist for more treatment, you can choose where and when to see your specialist from a list of hospitals or clinics. Your GP may also suggest community-based services, such as GPs with special interests, or community clinics. You may be able to make your choice there and then in your GP practice, but if you want to find out further information, talk things through with friends and family or simply think about it. Find out more information about choose and book.
Do you need emergency hospital treatment?
If you or someone else experiences severe breathing difficulties, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, go to an A&E Department or call 999 for an emergency ambulance. A&E departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can assess serious injuries and provide emergency treatment.