It seems odd – how can you learn to self care? It’s what you do all the time any way. You always do what’s best for you and only when you run into problems or are not happy about the way your health is that you turn for health advice. And of course you may well have tried many different places inluding friends, family, the internet including google, read leaflets, magazines, watched TV programmes, thought about what you have done in the past given the same symptoms before resorting to make an appointment to see the doctor or nurse. So what else could you possibly do and learn?
Well research from PAGB (1) shows that MINOR AILMENTS are part of normal everyday experience for us all, particularly: backache, coughs and colds, headaches and migraine, toothache, indigestion, skin problems, allergy and respiratory problems. They are typically not life-threatening and do not pose a major health risk and can be safely managed by patients themselves (2). They are different from other ailments because serious conditions usually require prescription medication, usually require a doctor or nurse to help you and last longer than a minor ailment. Patients do self manage using over-the-counter remedies but patients most often stop between 4-7 days if things do not improve and then try to seek help from their GP when many GPs think this may be unnecessary.
We want you to be confident in self care by choosing the appropriate over-the counter remedies. If symptoms persist then you can go to the pharmacist who is an EXPERT in MINOR AILMENTS and can encourage you to further self care. We at Haughton Thornley Medical Centres fully endorse the view that patients can work with their pharmacist to help resolve ANY MINOR AILMENTS you may have,
Remember: if the pharmacist does not think you will get better without the help of the doctor or nurse then they will ask you to make an appointment with us if need be. We are all here to help you get the best care possible and to help you manage your illness better.
(1) Source: Everyday healthcare study: 1987 & 1997 conducted by BMRB International for PAGB
A Picture of Health: 2005 conducted by NOP for PAGB/Readers Digest
(2) TNS Healthcare data