Helping you stay well in South Yorkshire

NHS South Yorkshire (ICB) is dedicated to helping local people stay healthy and look after their wellbeing all year round.

In this section of the website, we bring together information about the range of local NHS services available if you, a family member or someone you care for is unwell or injured, so that you can choose the right service for your needs, first time.

This South Yorkshire Healthier Together website provides pregnant women, babies, children and young people across South Yorkshire with consistent and high-quality advice from local health professionals. 

Here you will find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last. 

 

Self Care

Treat aches and pains, coughs and colds at home – stock your medicine cabinet with over-the-counter remedies.

We want to empower and encourage everyone to make self-care their everyday habit. Incorporating the practise of self-care into our everyday lives can help us to live as healthily as possible. And there’s evidence that suggests being as healthy as we can also help us to better cope with life’s challenges that come our way.

Let’s think about how we live our lives and maybe make some small changes that will improve our health and wellbeing, and our family’s. Those changes could mean looking at what we eat or drink, or how much exercise we do or how much sleep we are getting. They could be about our work-life balance, because staying connected to our friends and family is also vital to our wellbeing, and theirs.

Knowing what to do and where to go for help is an important part of practising self-care for life. Remember, it isn’t just the GP practice that can help, pharmacies are also health experts. They are on every high street and can help with all sorts of ailments. Pharmacists can also signpost you to the right place for additional health advice or treatment. Find out more about pharmacy services.

Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet/first aid kit

Be prepared for common illnesses and injuries by keeping your medicine cabinet stocked all year round.

Check your medicine cabinet and first aid kit to make sure you have the essentials in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries.

Check your medicine cabinet and make sure you have the following basics:

  • Pain relief
  • Antihistamines
  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Indigestion remedies
  • Sunscreen
  • First aid kit
  • Thermometer to check for fever
  • Range of bandages, plasters, elastic bandages and dressings
  • Antiseptic cream

Find out what you should keep in your first aid kit on the NHS.UK website.

Health advice online

Remember, NHS 111 online can also be a good resource for health advice for things that are not life-threatening. And the NHS website has lots of information on what steps to take to look after you and your family.

Ask your pharmacist what medicines should be in your cabinet to help you and your family. Many over-the-counter medicines (including paracetamol and ibuprofen) are available to relieve symptoms of common illnesses such as colds, sinusitis or painful middle ear infection (earache). Your pharmacist can help if you need any advice. To manage symptoms of common illnesses at home, you should rest, drink plenty of fluids, have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up and use over-the-counter medicines to help give relief. For more information search ‘medicines’ on the NHS website. 

If you take medicine regularly you'll usually have a repeat prescription.

This means you can order your medicine when you need it without having to see a GP until your next medicine review.

You might be able to ask your pharmacy for your medicine if your GP has set this up (repeat dispensing). If not, you'll need to order your medicines from your GP surgery each time.

There are 3 ways to order a repeat prescription from your GP surgery.

Using your NHS account

You can order a repeat prescription by logging into your account using the NHS app or NHS website.

If you're asked to nominate a pharmacy, you can only nominate a high street pharmacy.

You'll be able to collect your medicine in person when it's ready. Some high street pharmacies also deliver.

Using other online services or apps

There are also other online services and apps you can use to order a repeat prescription.

Some GP online services are only available in certain areas. Ask your GP surgery which service your GP surgery uses.

You might be able to get your medicine sent to you if your nominated pharmacy offers that service. Or they might be able to let you know when it's ready to collect.

Contact the online service or app you're using, or your GP surgery, if you have any difficulties.

Other services you can use to order a repeat prescription

By speaking to your GP surgery

You do not need to see a GP to order a repeat prescription. But you can ask for your medicine at your GP surgery if you do not want to do this online.

Ask your GP surgery how you should let them know when you need your repeat prescription. They can send your request to a pharmacy.

You might be able to get your medicine sent to you if the pharmacy you have nominated offers that service. Or they might be able to let you know when it's ready to collect.

Find your GP surgery

Information:

Help with repeat prescriptions

There's more information about prescriptions in your NHS account.

More in Online services

 

If you run out of medicine outside of your GP surgery’s normal opening hours and need some urgently, there are a few ways to get an emergency supply quickly, even if you’re away from home.

This is for urgent need only, so it is important to always remember to order repeat medication from your GP practice in good time so that you never run out.

There are two main ways you can request an emergency supply of medicines:

  • Contact NHS 111 via telephone or use the online service here: Emergency prescriptions – NHS 111. NHS 111 will then tell you which pharmacy you can go to or direct you to an urgent care centre. If the medicine is supplied, you will be charged the relevant prescription charge unless you are eligible for free prescriptions. This is not an NHS service so charges will vary.
  • Contact a Community Pharmacy directly. Use the NHS pharmacy service search to find other nearby pharmacies and their opening hours – some are open until midnight or later, even on public holidays. This is not an NHS service so charges will vary.

What happens next:

The Community Pharmacist will need to talk to you to check that they can meet the legal criteria to supply and to find out:

  • if you need the medicine immediately
  • who previously prescribed the medicine to you,
  • what medicine and dose of the medicine the prescriber has asked you to take.

The pharmacist will decide how much to supply up to a maximum of 30 days. There are sometimes when the smallest pack available has to be given such as one inhaler.

GP Practices are open. Talk to your GP, nurse, or other healthcare professionals about symptoms that aren’t going away. They can offer telephone, online or face-to-face appointments, depending on what your health concern is.

A range of healthcare professionals work alongside GPs at your local practice, to ensure you get the right care for your needs as quickly as possible, treat medical conditions and refer patients to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment. Speak to your practice reception team to find out more.

They focus on the health of the whole person combining physical, psychological and social aspects of care.

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

Get help online or on the phone

To get help, you can:

  • go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
  • call 111

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the British Sign Language service.

You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

How NHS 111 works

You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.

You can ask for a translator if you need one.

Depending on the situation you will:

  • find out what local service can help you
  • be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
  • get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
  • be given an arrival time if you need to go to A&E – this might mean you spend less time in A&E
  • be told how to get any medicine you need
  • get self-care advice

More information:

You can also can more information in alternative formats:

Please remember that if you have a medical emergency, such as a suspected heart attack, stroke, or other serious life-threatening condition, to call 999.

It's the perfect time to get active. No matter how much you do, physical activity is good for your body and mind. Adults should aim to be active every day. Some is good – more is better still.

A daily brisk walk can give your body a boost, lift your mood and make everyday activities easier.

To stay fit and healthy, it's recommended you get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, or around 20 to 30 minutes a day.

Try these tools, tips and special offers to move more every day.

Couch to 5K
The couch to 5K is a running programme for absolute beginners, Couch to 5K has helped millions of people like you start running.

Active 10
The Active 10 app anonymously records every minute of walking you do. Just pop your phone in your pocket and away you go!

Couch to Fitness
Get active from the comfort of your own home with Couch to Fitness by Our Parks. Bit by bit you’ll feel fitter, when you stick to our free fitness programme. It’s amazing what a difference it can make!  Start now.

This Girl Can
This Girl Can Classes are truly created with beginners in mind. From those who are dusting off their trainers after a break from exercise to those who have never even owned a pair of trainers, no woman is left behind.  Find out more.

Join the Movement
An online programme of yoga and dance specially designed for people with long-term health conditions and disabilities to help them keep fit, social and active.  Find out more.

For more information on how to become more active, visit the Better Health website.

 

Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services by clicking here.

The information is provided by Healthwatch Rotherham, but their advice is generic and relevant to anyone in South Yorkshire.