The NHS is still here to support you, please come forward if you have health concerns

As we are heading into the New Year, the NHS in Derby and Derbyshire is asking people to continue to access NHS services in the usual manner and to not store up care needs.

The NHS remains open for business and is keen to avoid an influx of stored-up demand following the Christmas and New Year period.  We continue to ask people to ‘Think Which Service’ is right for their needs so we can support people to get care in the quickest way.

Please come forward if you are concerned about your health and don’t wait for your condition to get worse.

The health service is still here to help care for people who are concerned about symptoms, we encourage members of the public to come forward as soon as possible if they have concerns or need urgent care as it will help staff to diagnose any illnesses and start treatment quickly where necessary.

Don’t wait for your condition to get worse, if you aren’t sure what to do, visit NHS 111 online or ring 111 for advice.

Help yourself to help the NHS

At this time of year, it is natural to come across conditions such as coughs, colds, sore throats, and rashes, consider self-care as the first option, using a local pharmacy for advice and basic medication.

Some Pharmacies are open over the Bank Holiday and can treat a range of conditions. Pharmacy opening times across Derby and Derbyshire are available at NHS England — Midlands » Bank Holiday pharmacy opening times and more information about your nearest pharmacy can be found at  Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Urgent treatment centres can be found in Derby, Tamworth, Lichfield, Ilkeston, Ripley, Darley Dale, Buxton and can help with urgent care issues such as burns, sprains, cuts, minor head injuries and much more. Waiting times are always shorter than accident and emergency departments. Urgent Treatment Centres are open 8am-8pm every day, even over the Bank Holiday.

Please work with hospital teams to support the discharge of friends and relatives. Having your loved ones’ homes ready, with food in the fridge, the heating on and someone available to meet the transport crew on arrival to help your friends or relative get settled can make a difference to our ability to help get patients home.

If you cannot make any NHS appointment, please contact the number on your appointment letter so that it can be reallocated to another patient.

Remember, NHS 111 can help you either online or by telephone and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.