Treating common conditions and minor ailments yourself
Get to know where to go this spring
With so many bank holidays over the spring, NHS Greater Manchester has some top tips to help you get the help you need.
If you take regular medicines on a repeat prescription, check how much you have at home before the long weekends. If you need to order more, put your request in at least two weeks before you expect to run out of a particular medicine, to avoid any complications or delays.
Your pharmacist can give you expert advice on treating minor illnesses or injuries. So, if you find yourself with a sore throat or your little one is teething, your community pharmacy can see you without an appointment and recommend over-the-counter medicines. They can also prescribe medicines for some conditions too. Just remember to check their bank holiday opening times.
When you use the right NHS service, you get the right treatment sooner. If you’re not sure what to do or where to go, NHS 111 can direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms and it’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.
- visit 111 online (over 5 years of age only)
- call 111
If you need urgent care, whether you have a pain in your gums, have a sudden change in your vision or need support for a mental health crisis, local services are there to help. Find the right urgent and emergency services for your needs.
General information about common conditions and minor ailments
Common conditions and minor ailments are generally not a serious health problem for most people. These include:
- coughs and colds
- upset stomachs
- indigestion
- aches and pains
You can usually treat the symptoms of these yourself at home or with advice from a local pharmacist. Antibiotics will not generally be prescribed for these types of conditions. You can save yourself a trip to your GP by speaking to your pharmacist first.
You can find a guide to conditions, symptoms, and treatments, what you can do yourself and when to get help on the NHS website.
The Self Care Forum has produced factsheets on a range of common conditions. These provide facts about your condition and what you can expect to happen, how you can help yourself and when you should see your GP. They have also produced 10 Urdu factsheets covering a range of their most popular self-care topics.
Treat yourself better is a day-to-day guide to cold and flu symptoms and shows you how to treat yourself with the help of your pharmacist.
Medicine cabinet essentials
Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet will make it easier for you to treat most common conditions and minor ailments. You’ll be able to treat the symptoms as soon as they appear which can help you to get better sooner.
Your medicine cabinet should include:
- painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin and equivalent syrups for children
- antihistamines for allergies and insect bites
- antiseptic cream for bites and stings
- indigestion remedies
- oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea or vomiting
- mild laxatives to help constipation
- plasters and bandages to manage cuts and sprains
- a thermometer to check for fever
- tweezers and scissors
You can buy these products from local pharmacies and many supermarkets.
You should always follow the product instructions and check that all medicines are still in date. Store medicines appropriately, keep them out of the reach of children and dispose of any that are out of date.
Keep antibiotics working
Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from spreading.
They do not work on viral infections such as colds and flu and most coughs.
Antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat:
- chest infections
- ear infections in children
- sore throats
Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can mean they will not work for you in the future. You should take your doctor’s advice on whether you need them or not.
Find out more about how to keep antibiotics working.