Stay well this winter

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) together with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, GPs, pharmacists and dentists, have been working to ensure that people have access to urgent care services over the Christmas and the New Year holiday period.

The following health and care arrangements will be in place should you or a member of your family become ill or have an accident.

As part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, which is being run by the HSCB and the Public Health Agency (PHA), the health service is encouraging everyone to look after themselves and take actions that will help stay well during winter. If you feel unwell, it is also important to choose the service most appropriate to your symptoms, so you can get better quicker.

It will also help the health and social care services make the most of finite resources.

Self-care is the best choice to treat most minor illnesses, ailments and injuries. A range of common illnesses such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, upset stomachs and sore throats can be treated with over the counter medicines and plenty of rest. Remember, whethertreated or not, most of these will get better.

The holiday pharmacy rota arrangements are as follows in Banbridge: Sunday, December 25 Clear Healthcare, Bridge Street, Banbridge 5pm – 6pm: Monday, December 26: Clear Healthcare, from 4pm – 6pm and Rathfriland Gordon’s Chemist, Main Street from 11am – 12noon. On January 1 and 2, N&R Gordon Ltd from 5pm – 6pm.

You are reminded to order and collect any essential repeat prescription medications from your daytime GP surgery in advance of the holiday period. GP out of hours will only provide repeat prescriptions in exceptional circumstances.