Would you pick up the phone to book an appointment with your doctor to ask about a sniffle? Or perhaps take yourself to A&E if you got a nasty cut? New research for the consumer healthcare association PAGB shows that a quarter of us wouldn't have an issue with heading to hospital or our GP with health issues we should probably be dealing with ourselves. It seems a quarter of Brits are not confident they can even treat a headache effectively, 18 per cent don't feel they know enough to soothe a cough, while 38 per cent are not sure how to tackle heartburn or indigestion. But despite the difficulty many experience getting GP appointments, fewer than half of us – just 44 per cent – would turn to a local pharmacy for health advice. As community pharmacist Deborah Evans and advisor to PAGB observes, we're missing out. 'Pharmacists train for five years and can provide expert advice on all self-treatable conditions,' she says. The potential savings are enormous. In 2020, it was estimated that the average GP consultation costs the NHS £39.23 and the most basic visit to A&E was at least £77. At the start of Self Care Week, Deborah and Dr Nisa Aslam provide their advice on issues we should be able to treat ourselves, how to do it, and the red-flag symptoms that should always be investigated. A quarter of Brits are not confident they can even treat a headache effectively (Stock photo) ( Getty Images/iStockphoto) 'Most people get two to four colds a year, but taking vitamin D reduces the risk,' says Deborah. 'Rest, drink plenty of fluids and focus on symptom relief with paracetamol and decongestants.' Dr Aslam adds: 'If you're taking both paracetamol and a decongestant containing paracetamol keep to the pack instructions. Meanwhile, a da){kind=link}
Frontline NHS services are at breaking point, but shocking new research shows that one in four people think it’s fine to go to their doctor or A&E for minor problems they could treat at home
Would you pick up the phone to book an appointment with your doctor to ask about a sniffle? Or perhaps take yourself to A&E if you got a nasty cut?
New research for the consumer healthcare association PAGB shows that a quarter of us wouldn’t have an issue with heading to hospital or our GP with health issues we should probably be dealing with ourselves.
It seems a quarter of Brits are not confident they can even treat a headache effectively, 18 per cent don’t feel they know enough to soothe a cough, while 38 per cent are not sure how to tackle heartburn or indigestion. But despite the difficulty many experience getting GP appointments, fewer than half of us â just 44 per cent â would turn to a local pharmacy for health advice.
As community pharmacist Deborah Evans and advisor to PAGB observes, we’re missing out. “Pharmacists train for five years and can provide expert advice on all self-treatable conditions,” she says.