Get the Right Care in the Right Place
Self Care
Self-care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries.
A range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home, simply by combining a well stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest.
Make sure that your medicine cabinet is well stocked with:
- Paracetamol
- A thermometer
- Antihistamines
- Aspirin
- Rehydration mixture
- Anti-diarrhoea medicine
- Plasters
- Indigestion remedy
Visit the NHS website for more information
Pharmacies
Your pharmacist may be able to help with:
- skin conditions, such as mild acne and mild eczema
- coughs and colds, including nasal congestion and sore throat
- minor cuts and bruises
- constipation and haemorrhoids (piles)
- hay fever and allergies
- aches and pains, such as headaches, earache and backache
- indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
- period pain and thrush
- warts and verrucas, mouth ulcers and cold sores
- athlete’s foot
- nappy rash and teething
Some pharmacies can provide truss fittings, stoma products and incontinence supplies.
Current guidelines state that antibiotics have no effect on the common cold and therefore will not be prescribed.
Dentist
For any or dental or mouth problems it is best to seek advice from a dentist as they can help with a variety of problems.
If you are not registered with a dentist find a local NHS dentist.
Optician
Your local optician can help with the following:
- Any changes to clarity of vision - including distortion, shadows, vision loss, blurring and peripheral vision problems
- Red eye
- Sore or gritty eye
- Watery or dry eye
- Itchy or sticky eye
- Unexplained headaches
- Flashing lights and / or floaters
- Swelling around the eye
- Foreign body e.g. dust or grit.
If you are not registered with an optician find a local optician.
General Practice
A range of clinicians, including doctors, nurses and sometimes pharmacists and physiotherapists to help you with both mental and physical health issues.
NHS 111
NHS 111 is a free phone and online service, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It offers a one-stop service for patients with urgent, but not life-threatening symptoms who want a fast and easy way to get help when they need it.
You should use 111 if:
- You need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
- You think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- You need to access out of hours GP services in Bexley
- You don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
- You need health information or reassurance about what to do next
You can contact 111 by calling the number 111 or by completing the online form on 111.nhs.uk
To find out more about NHS 111, visit the NHS website.
A & E / 999
999 / Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situations e.g.
- Suspected heart attack or stroke
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe bleeding
A&E departments provide immediate emergency care for people with very serious or life-threatening illness.
Before you either call 999 or go to A&E, ask yourself, "Is it a real emergency?"
If not please consider using other local health services.