The NHS and care partners in the county are launching their high profile local winter campaigns today focusing on helping people to stay healthy and well and signposting to the right advice and care when they need it.

Click or Call First (healthcare options campaign)

Click or Call First builds on last year’s successful campaign highlighting the benefits of going online or calling first if your illness or injury is not life threatening.

If you have an illness that won’t go away, after self-care or advice from the pharmacy, you are advised to Click or Call your GP surgery through their website, the NHS App or by phone.

If you think you may need A&E or to get the right service 24/7, you’re encouraged to click www.111.nhs.uk  or call 111. This year a local assessment and advice service run by doctors and nurses will be working alongside the 111 phone service to offer additional expert support.

The 111 phone service can book an appointment for you into local services e.g. GP surgeries, Community Minor Injury and Illness Units or one of the two A&E Departments if needed.

The local asapglos.nhs.uk website and ASAP Glos NHS App also offer care advice as well as information on all local services and when to use them e.g. Community Pharmacy, GP surgery, the Gloucester Health Access Centre, Community Minor Injury and Illness Units and A&E.

Local GP and urgent care lead at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Jeremy Welch said:

“In Gloucestershire, we want to simplify the way people access advice and support – including through ‘easy to remember’ digital and phone options.

The further development of the 111 service this year is a real step forward. The phone service can provide expert advice from nurses and doctors and can book people into local services when needed.”

Medical Director at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Prof. Mark Pietroni said:

“We are well aware that it can be difficult to know which service to use if you are ill or injured and it’s not life threatening.

The phone and digital options, including 111, highlighted in this campaign should really help signpost people to the right care in the right place.

We’d like to thank the great majority of local people who are accessing services appropriately and responding to the Click or Call First campaign messages. It’s important we all play our part and carefully consider the range of healthcare options available this winter, particularly for minor injury and illness.”

Stay Well This Winter (#StayWellGlos)

The health and care community in Gloucestershire is also launching a campaign to help people stay healthy and well this winter.

The checklist covers everything from vital messages about getting your vaccinations when offered to staying active, keeping your home warm, eating well and where to get mental health advice and support.

There is also advice on looking out for loved ones and neighbours and seeking advice from the pharmacist as soon as you start to feel unwell, particularly important if you have a long term health condition.

Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Gloucestershire County Council, Professor Sarah Scott said:

“This campaign is a timely reminder of all the things we can do to help ourselves, our families and friends to stay healthy and well throughout the months ahead.

Prevention is always better than cure so I’d encourage everyone to take the proactive and practical steps now that will make sure they are prepared for winter.”

Stay Well This Winter campaign advice can be found here.