Campaign launched in Doncaster highlighting the importance of self-care

The latest theme in Doncaster’s Primary Care campaign has launched this month, highlighting the importance of self-care.

The campaign sets out to raise awareness of the importance of self-care, and to help people understand that taking more control of your own care, having medicines available at home and to lead healthier life style is an important part of staying well.

100s of pharmacists work in Doncaster to provide helpful and timely advice, support and treatment. They are on your doorstep and should be used whenever you start to feel unwell.

Pharmacists are medically trained experts and operate from a range of services and buildings in Doncaster. Some from local practices, pharmacies, even supermarkets. There is always a pharmacist available and many are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dr David Crichton, local GP and Clinical Chair, NHS Doncaster CCG said: “Self-care is an extremely important part of a person’s health and wellbeing as it supports individuals to have control over their health, helping them to improve their quality of life.

“Medicine for self-care is a central part of this approach, and many local practices in Doncaster already encourage patients to take a personalised approach to keep themselves healthy.

“Many practices also have clinical pharmacists working in their teams, so it is now even easier to get advice from an expert in your local practice, should you need to make an appointment.”

An important element of today’s campaign focuses on ensuring patients better understand why its important to purchase over the counter medicines, helping to reduce unnecessary prescribing of products that are readily available to buy over the counter.

Encouraging patients to think about the importance of self-care supports guidance from NHS England to stop routinely prescribing over the counter medicines for 35 common conditions, such as sore throats, mild cystitis, head lice and mild acne.

Many treatments for minor illnesses are more expensive when they are provided on an NHS prescription compared to the purchase price from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Nick Hunter, Chief Officer of Doncaster Local Pharmaceutical Committee added: “One of the major benefits of pharmacies is that no appointment is needed, and a clinically trained pharmacist will be available for confidential health advice.

“Your local pharmacy is the best place to go for the treatment of common healthcare conditions, keeping local practice services and others, such as the Urgent Treatment Centre and the emergency department free to see patients with more serious conditions.”

In November last year, Doncaster CCG joined other areas across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and took part in a regional campaign to seek people’s views on purchasing over the counter medicines.

The 569 million reasons campaign saw more than 3,300 responses from Doncaster alone with 82% of people stating they would be happy to pay for medicines that were available to purchase over the counter.

Further information is available on the self-care section of NHS Doncaster CCGs website.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​