Self care for minor ailments
Many minor ailments can be treated yourself at home .
If you are generally in good health, there is no reason why you can’t look after minor illnesses yourself. In most cases the illness will get better by itself and so an appointment with your GP practice or another NHS services isn’t required.
If you have any long term conditions we would generally advise you to still contact your GP practice for advice if you develop a minor illness. This doesn’t need to be with a GP. There are a wide range of health professionals in practices nowadays such as advanced nurse practitioners, physician associates or clinical pharmacists, who are well qualified to advise patients and are often specialists in managing long term conditions. Your practice will be able to advise who will be best to see.
Your medicine box at home
To help you look after any minor illnesses and injuries at home it is a good idea to keep some first aid items in a medicine box. You can buy them from pharmacies and supermarkets. Examples of the items to include in your medicine box are:
- Plasters, bandages and dressings
- Antiseptic
- Pain relief
- Antihistamines.
You can learn more in our interactive medicine box.
Where you can get help to look after minor ailments
If you haven’t been able to treat it yourself at home, you can get support from:
These services are quick, easy and often all you need.
More serious health conditions
If your condition is more serious or self care didn’t work, contact your GP practice or use NHS 111 (when your GP practice is closed). They will help you get the right care, in the right place.
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Antibiotics
Taking antibiotics when you do not need them can mean they will not work for you in the future. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as colds and flu, and most coughs and sore throats and so an appointment at your GP practice for a prescription for such illnesses will be unnecessary.
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