Weekend Diagnosis: Stay healthy this summer

Published: 6 July 2016

This Weekend Diagnosis is from Mairead McAlinden, our Chief Executive

Although the weather has been a bit mixed lately, it’s great to see the sun when it does show its face.

With the main holiday season approaching us, soon Torbay and South Devon will be bustling with locals on their summer break as well as the usual influx of holiday makers.

We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful area which attracts more and more visitors every year, but such a high number of visitors also adds pressure on our already very busy health and care services. There are a few simple things we can all do while at home or on holiday to be better prepared.

Make sure you have a sufficient supply of any prescription drugs you take to see you through your holiday. Stock up on over-the-counter items such as a first aid kit and pain killers, and if you have children take some simple remedies which are safe for them to take.

If you do need to seek help and advice there are a number of options available. Please consider carefully which one is right for you. It’s really helpful to have a list to hand of your local pharmacy, minor injury unit and GP contact details, all of which can be found on www.nhs.uk.

We all know pharmacists dispense medicines but they can also give expert advice on a wide range of ailments, so why not call into your local high street or supermarket pharmacy for some quick and friendly advice.

If you or a family member is unlucky enough to suffer an injury, you should always consider attending one of our minor injury units to get expert treatment quickly. We have a number of MIUs across Torbay and South Devon which t can provide treatment for a whole range of injuries such as broken bones and sprains as well as burns and scalds. You can check what can and cannot be treated at our MIUs, as well as current waiting times and opening hours on our website.

If you are uncertain or concerned about your illness, or you need to consult a doctor out-of-hours, you should call the confidential NHS 111 helpline, which is free from both mobiles and landlines.

I really hope you all have a good summer, but please stay safe and look after yourselves by using a high factor sun cream, preparing and cooking barbecue food safely and staying hydrated. There are plenty more tips about summer health at www.nhs.uk.