Get the Right Treatment
Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor's appointment.
It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
Self-care
Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments. Colds, coughs, indigestion and many other minor complaints can all be treated with medicines that are available over the counter.
Your pharmacist can advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet. Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.
Your Local Pharmacist
Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses. They can answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. Your local Pharmacist can also advise on healthy eating.
Pharmacists can also advise on health eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest you visit your GP for more serious symptoms. It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription. Watch this short video on how you can get the most out of your local pharmacy
All local pharmacies also provide remedies for certain minor ailments free of charge under the MINOR AILMENTS SCHEME. This means that you will get medicine for your ailment direct from the pharmacy without having to see a GP and free of charge. The ailments covered under the Minor Ailments Scheme are:
- Athletes foot
- Diarrhoea
- Headlice
- Jock itch
- Threadworms
- Vaginal Thrush
- Cold sores
- Ear wax
- Mouth ulcers
- Oral thrush.
Please contact your local pharmacy for more information.
Tyrone County Hospital - Urgent Care Treatment Centre
Tyrone County Hospital - Urgent Care and Treatment Centre offer convenient access to a range of NHS services. You can receive treatment for many ailments including:
- minor head injuries where there has been no loss of consciousness,
- Scalp wounds,
- Facial injuries, which include eye injuries ie foreign body in the eye,
- Suturing of minor wounds,
- Eye infection,
- Shoulder, arm, hand sprains and fractures,
- Lower limb sprains and fractures, all of which can be x-rayed on site and treated appropriately and referred for follow-up at the outpatients clinics,
- Bites, stings, skin infections.
- Receive patients with chest pain and refer to adjacent Cardiac Assessment Unit,
Urgent Care and Treatment Centre is a valuable service and has proved to be a successful complementary service to traditional GP and A&E services. Some centres offer access to doctors as well as nurses. However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems. Telephone advice is also available on 02882 833169
Accident & Emergency (A&E)
Major A&E departments assess and treat patients who have serious injuries or illnesses. Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for emergencies, such as:
- loss of consciousness,
- pain that is not relieved by simple analgesia,
- acute confused state,
- persistent, severe chest pain, or
- breathing difficulties.
If you're injured or seriously ill, you should go, or be taken, to A&E. If an ambulance is needed you can call 999, the emergency phone number in the UK. You can also dial 112, which is the equivalent for the European Union.
Major A&E departments offer access 365 days a year and usually open 24 hours a day. Be aware that not all hospitals have an A&E department.