Cold weather can be hard on our health, so it’s really important to take steps to look after ourselves and prepare for our winter wellness. There are lots of things you can do to keep well and the NHS is here to help you.
You will find advice and helpful tips in the green panels below and in our NHS services leaflet which you can download - (translations are available below).
One of the most important things you can do is have your winter vaccinations.
More information about vaccinations, eligibility, your questions and other NHS services that can help you this winter,
can be found below.
Local pharmacists are there to help with minor health concerns
Local pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can help with minor health concerns and illnesses, some vaccinations, as well as helping you with your medications.
They can see you face-to-face and provide confidential help on the same day, with no appointment needed.
For minor health concerns including: coughs, colds, upset stomach, skin or eye
infections, visit your high street pharmacy. This is a quick and convenient way to get medical advice.
Listen to one of our pharmacists expalining how they can help you in this video.
Self-care helps you to stay as healthy and as independent as you can
On a day-to day basis, it's about making small lifestyle changes that can have a big effect on your wellbeing.
Self-care can be as simple as calling a friend for a chat, doing a bit of exercise or joining a lunch club. It is also about managing any conditions you have in a way that puts you in control and improves your quality of life.
Some simple things you can do:
Mental wellness
Take a look at our five areas of well-being to get you started: Connect, Be Active, Give, Take Notice, Learn. You can also find out more more about improving your mental wellbeing on NHS.UK
Stay connected
It is really important for your mental and physical health to keep in touch with friends and family over the winter. If you are on your own - there are lots of organisations that can link you up with other people and support services. Please visit:
www.hubofhope.co.uk
www.wellbeingwestlondon.org.uk
Be prepared
Even a minor illness and ailments such as colds, headaches and diarrhoea can disrupt your life. Be prepared for most common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
Medications for these ailments can be bought at your local pharmacy, where you can also get advice.
Do make sure you always read the label before taking any medication.
NHS Health checks and screening
The NHS health check is your chance to get your free midlife MOT. For adults in England aged 40-74 without a pre-existing condition, it checks your circulatory and vascular health and what your risk of getting a disabling vascular disease is. This guide explains what happens at the check, when and how you get one, and how to lower your risk.
You will also be invited for regular cancer screening. Make sure you take an appoinmnt for screening when invited.
There are services available to support with mental health and crisis
Talking therapies
The NHS provides a range of talking therapies for people who feel anxious and worried or down and depressed. If you need help you can refer yourself, you don’t need to go to your GP first
Visit: www.nhsTalk2us.org
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency
you can get immediate help on our freephone lines from our trained mental health advisers and clinicians all day every day.
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For residents in: |
Freephone helpline |
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Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham |
0800 328 4444 |
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Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & (Central and North West London Foundation NHS Trust) |
0800 0234 650 |
Winter wellness support from hospitals in NW London
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and West London NHS Trust have singposted a number of mental health services, either provided by the hospitals or by NHS-approved partners. These services are designed to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing this winter.
Your GP can help you in-person, online, or over the phone
If you need help registering with a GP more information is available here.
If you need to speak to a GP or doctor, it is best to contact your usual practice as they will have your medical records to hand and can provide help based on this.
If you need prescription medication, your GP practice can arrange for it to be collected at a pharmacy that is convenient for you.
- Your GP practice can help you over the phone, online and in-person.
- To book an appointment you can use the online form on the practice website (PATCHS), use the NHS App, phone or walk-in to reception.
- A video on how to use PATCHS to contat your GP is available here
Phone appointments
Our GP practices offer phone appointments.
We want to reassure patients that our GPs can help many people over the phone without the need to come into the surgery, and if you do need to be seen face-to-face, you will be booked in for an appointment
Over the phone your GP can:
- assess you
- provide help & advice
- organise tests & prescriptions
- make a referral
- book you in to be seen face-to-face, if they need to see you.
GP appointments are available at evenings and weekends
Call your GP practice to book and get details of local appointments or call NHS 111.
More information on GP services at evenings and weekends can be found here.
Online consultations
If you need to speak to a GP or nurse, get a sick note or find out test results, don’t forget you can use the online consultation form on your GP practice's website. The secure form will be responded to quickly and may save you a phonecall to the practice.
When you think you need A&E, think NHS 111 first
Get the right advice for an urgent problem
NHS 111 is a website and phoneline available all day everyday to help if you have an urgent medical problem.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics and fully trained advisors are available to ensure you receive the right care. They can:
- Find out what local service can help you
- Connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- Get you a face-to-face appointment if you need one
- Give you an arrival time if you need to go to A&E
- Tell you how to get any medicine you may need
- Give self-care advice
You can contact NHS 111 at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.
If you have a serious or life threatening medical emergency, call 999 or go to accident and emergency (A&E)
A&E departments are for seriously ill people with life-threatening conditions and will be very busy over winter. We encourage you to use alternative health services if it is not an emergency.
During the winter months there is an increased risk that your child could become unwell. Often, the illnesses are not serious and can be prevented or treated safely at home, or with support from a GP or pharmacist.
Helping your unwell child booklet
A team of experts at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have developed a resource pack to help you care for your sick child. It will help you identify when an illness is minor and when it is serious. Click here to download the booklet.
Healthier Together website
Healthier Together, in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, have produced information on a range of health concerns that you may be worried about as a parent or carer, including Covid-19, fever, and mental health. Visit the website.
