Bristol people are advised how to look after themselves with
winter colds and flu and look out for Bank Holiday openings for
health
Dr Hugh Annett, Director of Public Health for Bristol said
today: Winter does bring more coughs, colds and flu so it is a good
idea to be prepared and to make sure you have paracetamol and other
treatments to hand. The sooner you can start treatment the
better but remember to store any medicines safely at home (out of
the reach of children).
If you need a regular prescription for a long term condition,
please check now to make sure that you have enough to tide you over
the holiday period.
Over Christmas and New Year, it is also useful to know where to go
for advice and medicines.
Health advice is on hand, even after working hours, such as
in pharmacies or local Walk-in Centres. You can use out of hours GP
services run by Frendoc and Brisdoc by ringing your normal GP
surgery - but remember that ringing 999 or visiting hospital
emergency departments is only appropriate for serious illnesses and
injuries.
Dr Annett added: Hospital emergency departments can get very
busy at this time of year as does the ambulance service. It is
important that people in Bristol dont call on ambulance and
emergency departments with minor problems which may take up care
needed for seriously injured or seriously ill patients.
Lindsey Scott, Chief Nurse and Director of Governance,
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:
The emergency department at the Bristol Royal Infirmary is
likely to be extremely busy over the Christmas period. In order to
get the most effective help, can I ask that you think about your
visit and whether it is more appropriate to seek help from your GP
or use one of the other health services such as NHS Direct, the
walk-in centres or the Minor Injuries Unit at Southmead.
Where to go:
¢ If you need advice or want to know about different health
conditions or ailments ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647. NHS Direct is
a confidential health help line available 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year. You can also log on to: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk for
free expert health advice and reassurance or to find out where to
go for treatment or to find a local NHS dentist. You can also
access NHS Direct Interactive on Sky Digital TV - press the
interactive button and scroll down the menu to page 2 -
Freeview, go to Channel 108.
¢ For minor injuries such as wounds, sprains and broken
bones there is a minor injuries unit at Southmead Hospital, which
is open 9 am to 9pm everyday including Christmas Day. It treats
wounds, sprains, strains, some broken bones, minor head injuries
and other similar conditions.
¢ Your GP surgery will be closed on the bank holidays, but
there is an out of hours service run by Brisdoc or Frendoc for
urgent medical treatment. Ring your usual surgery where you will be
given instructions or diverted to the out of hours service, or ring
NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
¢ NHS Walk-in Centres - there are two in Bristol. The one
at Knowle West Health Park is open every day from 9am to 9pm and
the Bristol City Walk-in Centre is open as follows over the
Christmas period (details below).
Bristol City Gate WIC, Broad Street, Bristol
Christmas Day closed
26-28 Dec 10am to 6pm
New Years Day 10-6
Otherwise normal hours: 8am to 8pm
South Bristol WIC, Knowle West Health Park, Downton Road
Open 9am to 9pm every day including Christmas, Boxing and New Years
Day
¢ For emergencies such as loss of consciousness, severe
chest pain, serious accidents or less of blood call 999 for an
ambulance of go to Accident and Emergency Departments at the
Bristol Royal Infirmary or Frenchay Hospital.
¢ Emergency dental care
The Dental Access service is for people who need emergency dental
treatment and are not registered with a NHS dentist. To book an
appointment, or to get advice, people should phone the Emergency
Dental Service on 0845 120 6680.
Patients can also ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
¢ Emergency contraception and sexual health services
Emergency contraception will be available from the pharmacies
listed below, and is free for under-20 year olds at some
pharmacies.
For opening hours of contraception and sexual health clinics in
Bristol and and where to go in an emergency please ring NHS Direct
24 hours a day on 0845 46 47, or visit either of the Bristol NHS
Walk-in Centres. Sexual health service information can also be
found at www.4ypbristol.co.uk, or
call the sexual health services information line on 0117
3426900.
Brook Clinic, Unity Street, Bristol
Closed Bank Holidays
Please ring 0117 9290090 for opening hours, and where to go for
emergency contraception and advice.
Bristol Sexual Health Centre, Central Health Clinic, Tower Hill,
Bristol
Normal opening hours 8.30am to
8pm
Christmas
Eve
10am to 2pm Drop-in clinic (limited appointments, Normal PAS
Service)
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing
Day
Closed
New Years Eve 10am to 2pm Drop-in clinic (limited
appointments, Normal PAS Service)
New Years Day Closed
There is a range of appointments and drop-In clinics during
normal service. Please call 0117 342 6900 if further
information needed. Doors close ten minutes before end of
session.
¢ Pharmacy opening times
Most pharmacies will display a notice in their window showing the
additional service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years
Day. For full details of pharmacies that are open and their
hours please ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or see list below:
The following pharmacies are guaranteed to be open at the times
stated - please see chart below:
Pharmacy Christmas Day Boxing Day New Years
Day
Selcan Pharmacy, 103 St Marks
Road 11.00-13:00 11:00-13:00
Buxton and Grant Pharmacy, 176 Whiteladies Road 11:00-13:00
&
18:00-20:00 18:00-20:00
Silvermans Pharmacy, 180a Wells
Road 18:00-20:00 18:00-20:00 18:00-20:00
Bhogal Chemist, 78-91 St Marks Road,
Easton 18:00-20:00 18:00-20:00 18:00-20:00
Kellaway Pharmacy, 18 Kellaway Rd, Westbury Park
11:00-13:00
Cotham Pharmacy, 5 Cotham Hill 18:00-20:00
Boots Broadmead 10:00-17:00 10:00-17:00
Boots Avonmead 10:00-17:00 10:00-17:00
Sainsburys Winterstoke Road 09:00-17:00
Lloyds Pharmacy Fishponds Road
10:00-18:00
Boots Eastgate 10:00-18:00 10:00-17:00
If you go on the NHS Choices on www.nhs.uk - you can enter your
postcode to find your nearest GP and the surgeries opening times
over Christmas.
Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet will ensure you are able
to treat any winter ailments such as cold and flu promptly, and
therefore increase your familys chance of a speedier recovery.
Things to keep a supply of include: paracetamol, ibuprofen or
aspirin to help relieve the aches, pains and raised temperatures of
colds and flu; sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen syrups for
children; decongestant to treat catarrh, sinusitis and dry coughs;
childrens decongestant, a selection of plasters, cotton wool, and
assorted dressings, safety pins, tweezers and sharp scissors. Your
local pharmacist will be able to give you advice.
Keep warm
Its vital that older people keep warm - We want to remind them to
wrap up warm, dont go out if its very cold but do keep active
at home, and have warm meals which act as a fuel. We want to
remind neighbours how important it is to check on an elderly person
in your road and to offer to do shopping for them in bad weather,
said Dr Annett.
Your local pharmacist (or chemist) can help you with many
ailments ranging from sprains to stomach upsets. Pharmacists can
help you get the best from medicines available and can advise you
on what to buy.
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it.
Catch it, kill it, bin it - sneeze into tissues, bin the tissues
safely then wash your hands as soon as possible.
