Are you ready for Christmas?
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for health services and particularly pharmacy services.
Make sure you do your bit to help reduce the strain on the health service. Ask your pharmacist for advice today on keeping a well stocked self care kit that will help you and your family deal with any minor ailments over the busy Christmas Season.
Avoid travelling in hazardous conditions and on busy roads for minor ailments and medicines – prepare today
A self care kit should be kept in a cool, secure, dry place, out of reach of children and pets. Keep medicines in their original containers, with original label.Try keep information leaflets with the medicine containers as these leaflets often provide great advice if needed. Make sure you keep your self care kit up to date and dispose of any expired medicines safely. If you do become unwell, or need medical advice over Christmas and New Year, ask your local pharmacist or GP.
Check out the opening times of your local pharmacy over the holidays, and check the GP out of hours services available. Therefore if you need them quickly you know where the best place to go to be seen is, and avoid an unnecessary trip to A&E. If you, or someone you care for, has complex health needs, make sure you discuss your prescription needs and health concerns with your pharmacist or primary care team as soon as possible, to make sure you have enough medicines and supplies for the Christmas period.
Further advice about how to stay well this winter is available on the HSE Website http://www.winterready.ie/pdfs/BeWinterReady-Web.pdf
