If you are injured or unwell during the holiday season there are a number of different NHS services that you can access. If you are unsure if a service can treat your condition, just call ahead and ask.
Tel: 01670 529205 - please call ahead to make an appointment. Normal opening times Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm not including bank holidays. This service is closed from Saturday 25 to Tuesday 28 December and Saturday 1 to Monday 3 January and re-opens on Tuesday 4 January 2011.The service will be closed on from Saturday 25 December to Tuesday 28 December and Saturday 1 January to Monday 3 January reopening Tuesday 4 January 2011.While some GP practices and pharmacies will be open over the festive season, many will be closed.NHS Walk-in Centres or NHS Minor Injuries Units For treatment of minor illnesses or injuries without an appointment choose an NHS Walk-in Centre or Minor Injuries Unit. Children under two years old can only be treated at GP led walk-in centres - see the key below for details or ring ahead to check.Tel: 0191 233 3760 Opening times: 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Closed from Saturday 25 December to Tuesday 28 December and Saturday 1 January to Monday 3 January and reopens on Tuesday 4 January 2011.More than half of those surveyed with O-T-Cs at home (55%) said they are likely to knowingly take expired drugs, especially within the first few months after a medication has expired. Though most parents tend to check expiration dates more frequently, more than a third said they had given their children medication that had expired in the previous six months."If you do feel unwell at Christmas there are lots of things you can do to treat your symptoms at home.Other walk-in services available: Newcastle Central NHS Walk-in Centre Unit 5, The Bar, St James Gate (near Jury's Inn).Self-care Minor ailments such as hangovers, upset stomachs, headaches, sore throats and coughs can all be treated at home with a well stocked medicine cabinet and plenty of rest. If you take prescription medication for a long term health condition, don't forget to make sure you have enough medication to last until the New Year.With an easy disposal method available, consumers can also replace expired products with what they need for the cough/ cold, allergy or first aid (summer) season, he adds.If you need to see a GP when your own practice is closed, contact the out of hours GP service - Northern Doctors Urgent Care on: 0300 123 4343. Open 6.30pm to 8.00am on normal weekdays, open 24 hours a day from Saturday 25 to Tuesday 28 December and Saturday 1 to Monday 3 January.Launched in September, the Safe Medication Disposal Program is the first safe, environmentally responsible national program for the disposal of unused or expired medications, according to Walgreens.Westgate Walk-in Centre, Westgate Road Does not treat injured children under six. Tel: 0191 282 3000 www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk Open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.Northumberland Minor Injuries Units at Alnwick Infirmary, Berwick Infirmary and Rothbury Community Hospital Tel: 08448 118111 and ask for either Alnwick, Berwick or Rothbury minor injuries.Walgreens last month released its 2010 Over-The-Counter Household Inventory and Consumer Attitude Study, which found that nearly 40% of the U.S. households surveyed have at least one bottle of expired O-T-C drugs at home. Almost all had O-T-Cs on hand, with the most common being pain relievers, cough/cold treatments and allergy relief products. In individual interviews, most consumers said they were surprised to find expired drugs in their home, and half of the respondents stated they are typically not aware a medication is expired until it is needed.Paul Johnstone, NHS Yorkshire and the Humber's regional director for public health, said: "Prevention is always better than cure, so by making sure you have everything you need ahead of the festive period you will give yourself the best chance of staying out of hospital.The following services are open throughout the Christmas and New Year bank holiday period from Saturday 25 December to Monday 3 January 2011.Out of hours and urgent dental treatment You can contact the out of hours dental service on 0845 608 0324. If you do not have a dentist or are experiencing problems accessing treatment, ring NHS Direct.Pharmacist Your local pharmacy provides expert advice on common health problems and many pharmacies have early and late opening hours. Details of these are available at www.northoftyne.nhs.uk and from NHS Direct.So health experts are advising locals to make sure they have enough medication at home to deal with minor injuries and common ailments like coughs, sneezes and stomach upsets.Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital Minor Injuries Unit Tel: 01434 320225. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.North Tyneside Minor Injuries Clinic, Shiremoor Health Resource Centre, Earsdon Road * Tel: 0191 253 6966 Opening times Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm not including bank holidays."A lot of Americans have expired over-the-counter medications in their medicine cabinet. We want to make sure our patients are safe, which is why we offer the ability to dispose of those medications," he says.For $2.99, customers can purchase a specially designed envelope at any Walgreens pharmacy counter that allows them to mail O-T-C or prescription medications they are no longer using for safe, eco-friendly disposal. Controlled substances are excluded from the program, because of regulations. Postage for mailing the envelope is included.
A&E or 999 - for health emergencies Please ONLY use the 999 service for serious health emergencies which include: a major accident, broken bones, breathing problems, severe chest pains, unconsciousness, suspected stroke and severe blood loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment