Self care

Did you know that 10 of the most common minor ailments seen by GPs can also be treated by you at home?

By treating yourself at home you could save a trip to the surgery and free up time for the GPs to see patients with more serious health problems.

Find out more by looking at each of the boxes below.

Health A-Z

The NHS Health A-Z provides a wealth of information and advice on treating yourself at home, including guidance on when you should contact a GP or other health professional. These...

Medicines A-Z

Find out how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions. Visit Medicines A-Z on nhs.uk.

Medicine Cabinet

You can treat many minor ailments such as colds, coughs and indigestion by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home. We suggest you keep the following: Paracetamol and aspirin (children...

First aid

Having a basic knowledge of first aid can save lives and it can help you to understand when someone needs to go to the hospital or when they might just...

Musculo-skeletal pain

Suffering with musculo-skeletal pain can be common. In the first two weeks, you can usually do things to ease the pain yourself by following the NHS guidance on the links...

Antibiotics

Each year 25% of the population visit their GP for a respiratory tract infection (eg sinus, throat or chest infection). These are usually caused by viruses. For patients who are...

Check your own Blood Pressure

It is important to be aware of your blood pressure because the higher your blood pressure is, the higher your risk of potential health problems in the future. For those...

Ear Wax and Ear Syringing

The NHS website provides self-help advice for treating ear wax at home – visit Earwax build-up – NHS Some patients have found that self-irrigation using an ear syringing bulb from...

Better Health

If you’re overweight, losing weight has many health benefits. Making small, simple changes to what and how much you are eating and drinking can really help you lose the pounds....

Quit smoking

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for your health. There’s lots of advice and information at www.nhs.uk/smokefree If you prefer face to face support, you...

Drink Less

Cutting back on the booze can be a really effective way to improve your health, boost your energy, lose weight and save money. Any reduction in the amount you drink every...

Sleep and tiredness

We all feel tired from time to time. But tiredness or exhaustion that goes on for a long time is not normal. It can affect your ability to get on...

Learning disabilities

Dr Lorna Davey is our lead GP for patients with learning disabilities. She oversees their care and offers them an annual review every year. Here are other sources of help:...

Date published: 8th October, 2014
Date last updated: 17th January, 2023