Pharmacies will help Oldhamers stay well this Christmas and New Year

Community pharmacies across Greater Manchester will be helping people stay well and access advice and treatment for minor illnesses this Christmas and New Year.

The NHS and community pharmacies themselves are encouraging people to make pharmacy their first port of call for expert advice and care for everything from tummy upsets and headaches to coughs, colds and sore throats and minor burns/scalds.

Many pharmacies can also provide emergency contraception (‘morning-after pill’), stop-smoking support and other services.

Several pharmacies will be open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and/or New Year’s Day, and all Greater Manchester pharmacies will be open for their regular hours over the rest of the Christmas season. 

You don’t need an appointment to visit a pharmacy and many are open late evenings and weekends – around 100 Greater Manchester pharmacies are open 100 hours a week.

Pharmacist Aneet Kapoor, Chair of Greater Manchester Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “Visiting your local pharmacy is your fastest route to care. 

"You don’t need an appointment – you can just pop in any time for expert advice from a highly-trained healthcare professional who can help prevent conditions like coughs or colds from getting worse.

“Pharmacies are the best place to go at the first sign of minor ailments, especially over Christmas and New Year, whether you’ve got a winter bug, a tummy upset, a migraine, eczema or other skin problem, or a small burn while cooking Christmas dinner. 

"You can also get the morning-after pill from many pharmacies without needing to see a GP. 

"We would also encourage people who take regular medications to make sure their prescription will last them over Christmas and New Year.”

People can find full details of their nearest pharmacies – including their opening hours, contact details and services available – at: https://beta.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy/

The list of pharmacies open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day is available at http://psnc.org.uk/greater-manchester-lpc/service-information/pharmacy-bank-holiday-opening-hours/

Top tips to stay well this winter:

Make pharmacy your first port of call for advice/care for minor conditions and general health advice. 

Go to the pharmacy at the first sign of any minor illness e.g. coughs, colds, sore throats, flu, and aches and pains.

Cold weather can increase your risk of getting ill, including coughs and colds, flu, heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

Keeping warm can help you stay well and reduce your risk of being ill. 

Keep your home heated to at least 18°C, wrap up well with lots of layers and have plenty of hot drinks.

Keep some paracetamol handy in your medicine cabinet – it can help relieve pain and reduce temperatures if you get a winter bug.

If you use any regular medication, make sure you have enough to last you over Christmas and New Year. 

Look out for family, friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable over winter – check they’re okay and not feeling isolated, unwell or too cold. 

Offer to help them with shopping etc if it’s too cold/icy for them to go out.

For more information, contact Greater Manchester LPC on 0161 228 6163 or: enquiries@gmlpc.org.uk

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