Choose well on health care

PEOPLE in Warrington are being advised to “choose well” when seeking advice for illnesses during the winter months.
A new Choose Well campaign is directing people to the range of local health services available – and will offer tips on the most appropriate service for their needs.
It is illustrated by a thermometer with sections to represent six NHS services from Self Care to Accident and Emergency.
The thermometer features six colour-coded areas corresponding to types of healthcare.
Self Care (blue): recommended for minor illnesses and injuries, with a recommendation to keep a well stocked medicine cabinet and take plenty of rest.
NHS Direct (represented by dark green): use to find answers to any health questions, check symptoms and find out about local NHS services (24 hours a day).
Pharmacists (lime green): patients are advised to visit to gain advice about common winter health problems and the best medicines to treat them.
Yellow represents the GP service which should be used for illnesses and injuries that will not go away.
More urgent care is illustrated by orange. There are walk in centres where appointments are not needed and should be used for minor illnesses and injuries that do not require A&E.
For critical or life-threatening situations only, A&E is recommended, represented by red.
Further information about NHS Warrington’s Wellbeing Service is available by visiting www.turnoveranewleaf.nhs.uk or calling 01925 843717.
Pictured: NHS Warrington’s wellbeing mentors with the giant thermometer. They are (left to right) Sarah Watson, Christine Harrison, Karen Power and Kayleigh Eckersley-Morris.