Local GPs, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and other health workers are right behind a national campaign launched today (November 16-22) to encourage everyone to take better care of their own health.
Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Clinical Commissioning Group (WAM CCG) is using the national week-long “Self-Care for Life” campaign to remind local residents of the many fast and easy ways they can help themselves to good health – no GP appointment necessary.
Posters launched
WAM CCG is using the week to launch new information posters* to go on display at key community points around the borough. “The posters are one way we have to remind our patients we want them to keep well and look after themselves and to offer practical information on what they can do and where they can go when it’s a minor illness or ailment they don’t need us to treat, or how they can monitor and manage a lifelong condition, like diabetes” said Windsor GP and chair of WAM CCG, Dr Adrian Hayter.
Use GP time wisely
As well as helping individuals and their families, self-care supports whole communities by encouraging them to use health services more effectively. Said Dr Hayter: “GPs and Nurses are already over-stretched and we recognise that appointments can be hard to book. We want to make sure that appointments are there for those people who need them and that it makes sense sometimes for some people to access a wide range of help themselves or through other services such as local Pharmacies. If people are unsure where to get help then 111 is available to help them make that decision.”
People can help make sure GP slots are used wisely by asking themselves if instead they could:
Local pharmacist, Simon Carter from Wraysbury Pharmacy , wants all health workers to join together to promote better self-care. He said: “I’d like to see people turn towards pharmacists for advice about minor ailments and away from the Internet. I am keen to help solve problems for patients with a common sense approach. We offer a local and personal service – I’d like to think that locally if there’s a problem and it doesn’t seem to need a GP’s attention, people can say to each other – ‘go and ask Simon’. “
GPs open seven days a week
As part of its bid to help build healthier communities, WAM CCG is supporting local GPs to open seven days a week for routine appointments at two dedicated “hubs” in the borough**.
Anyone registered at a GP surgery in Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead can now go and see a GP at a time that better suits them. Patients just call their own surgery as normal and ask for one of the “hub” evening or weekend slots.
Get ready for winter – flu jab this weekend?
The “hubs” are now running “mop-up” weekend flu-jab clinics for patients who missed out on a jab at their own GP surgeries.
The clinics will run from 9am – 1pm at: