The successful Choose Well campaign is now in its third year and provides people with the information they need to get the best treatment and reduce pressure on health services over the winter period.

During the winter months, and especially over Christmas and New Year Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) and doctors surgeries tend to be much busier, especially if we have lots of flu in the area. People often turn up at hospitals with a wide range of illnesses and injuries but often the less serious ailments could have been better treated more quickly elsewhere.

The main aim of Choose Well is to make people aware that the NHS offers a number of options which are tailor-made to deal with different ailments. Options include GPs, pharmacies, the new Single Point of Contact telephone and appointment service, the Rotherham Walk-in Centre or NHS Direct. In some cases staying at home and looking after yourself is the best care leaving emergency services for those who need them most.

Dr David Plews, Medical Director at NHS Rotherham and local GP, said: “We are really lucky in Rotherham to have an excellent range of services to meet everyone’s health needs. The new Single Point of Contact is an excellent new telephone service that is staffed by local doctors and nurses who can advise on the best place to get treatment for your illness or injury and can even fix you up with an appointment if you really need one.

“Choosing Well helps us to help those who need it most and for those with minor ailments, helps them to get the health services they need quicker and easier.

“Remember, our local pharmacists are highly qualified to give advice on a wide range of common health problems and the best medicines to treat them. They prescribe from a limited range of medications so you don’t even have to go to your doctor for some things. Medications for head lice, hay fever, pain relief and cystitis can all be prescribed by your local pharmacist.”

Winter is a really busy time for A&E departments across the country and Rotherham is no exception.  Visiting A&E departments or calling 999 should just be reserved for people who are badly injured or showing symptoms of a critical illness such as chest pain or broken bones.

Look out for the brightly coloured Choose Well leaflets, posters and flyers which are available in doctor’s surgeries, pharmacies, opticians and dentists in your area or visit: www.rotherham.nhs.uk

Don’t forget, help us to help you and have a happy and healthy winter.

Ref:  NHSR11 - P74