Being prepared is a key in helping you to stay well, especially in hot weather. 

• Find out more on how to stay well in a heat wave
• Read the heat wave plan from Public Health England

Self-help guides for minor illnesses and injuries can be found below:

• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Bites and stings
• Coughs and colds
• Dehydration
• Children’s fever
• Helping a drunk person
• Sprains and strains
• Sunburn
  

Pharmacies

Your local pharmacist should be your first port of call for minor ailments and injuries.

Pharmacist Afsha Khan from Wicker pharmacy said “I would say that approximately 50% of the people who come to the pharmacy because they can’t get a GP appointment don’t actually need one – we can help with a huge amount of illnesses and health concerns.

Afsha revealed that there are a lot of things a pharmacist can help with instead of a GP: “As well as helping treat conditions like coughs, colds, tummy troubles and thrush, people can also benefit from services like Healthy Living Checks, where we measure things like blood pressure and blood glucose levels. 

NHS 111

If you need medical attention when your GP practice is closed you can access the GP out-of-hours service by calling 111. This Freephone service can give you advice about which NHS services are open and able to help you with your problem. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Walk-in services

Walk-in services treat minor illnesses and injuries that do not need a visit to A&E. The Broad Lane Walk in Centre is open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It sees people of all ages without an appointment.

The Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire hospital is open from 8am – 8pm every day and provides treatment for adults with less serious injuries, such as sprains, cuts and grazes. Many people go to A&E with minor injuries when they could usually be treated much more quickly at the Minor Injuries Unit.

Click here for more information on what to do if you feel unwell.