TAKE CARE THIS WINTER

A WARM WELCOME AT THE LIFE ROOMS

The Life Rooms are offering their sites in Liverpool and Sefton as warm hubs during the colder months. Join them for a warm drink as well as sign up for free short courses and have fun. They offer one to one advice and support for benefits, housing, energy bills and other issues. All Life Rooms sites have PCs you can use and courses to help you improve your IT skills. Walton and Southport sites have libraries and quiet corners to read.

To find out more about The Life Rooms service visit liferooms.org or call 0151 478 6556

WINTER TIPS

Winter can intensify stress, anxiety and loneliness. This series of colourful animations offer tips and advice.

Visit: merseycare.nhs.uk/ help-us-help-you

TAKE CARE

THIS WINTER

You’re precious, don’t ever stop taking care of yourself. It can be hard, especially if you’re feeling unwell or anxious. There are lots of things you can do to keep warm, well and positive, even when the nights are long.

Health lecturer Deborah Winks offers sound advice. She says focus on what you can do in winter, rather than what you can’t.

“Get outside as much as you can. Daylight regulates sleep and lifts your mood and there’s nothing better than coming home to a warm house after a nice winter walk,” says Deborah.

Plan ahead, maybe organise a film night on a Friday with a picnic tea on a blanket on the floor, a games night either in person or on Zoom, or an indoor project.

Even kids bedtime can be a ritual to be enjoyed says Deborah: “Every evening at bed time, myself and my son tell each other about our ‘lovely days’ and we do the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ of the day. This is something I really look forward to and I know that hearing my son’s ‘best’ supports my positivity.”

Source gov.wales

FIND OUT MORE

about staying well in winter: merseycare.nhs.uk/help-us-help-you

AT YOUR SERVICE

By choosing the right health service, you will be better placed to look after yourself and others. If you need same day urgent care, contact NHS 111 online or by phone, it’s available 24 hours a day seven days per week. They’ll know the best service for your needs.

However, if its an emergency or a serious injury, please dial 999 or go straight to A&E.

Help us help you this winter

by choosing well...

Self care

Keep a well stocked medicine and first aid cupboard for minor ailments

Pharmacy NHS 111 GP Practice Walk-In Centres A&E or 999

Pharmacists are highly trained professionals who can treat or advise on minor illnesses Urgent medical help fast, available 24/7

Urgent and routine appointments on weekdays, evenings and weekends find a Walk In Centre merseycare.nhs.uk

For life threatnening emergencies and serious injuries only

URGENT CARE

People in crisis who are at risk of being admitted to hospital may be eligible for a new service offering urgent two-hour assessment and support within 48 hours, for a short time.

The service is run by health and social care professionals to help people recover quickly and keep their independence.

Those eligible to be referred by their GP, health professional or 111, include people who have had a fall, have become increasingly frail or where their normal care has broken down.

For full eligibility and referral details go to: www.merseycare.nhs.uk/2hr-ucr

HELP YOURSELF... to a range of self help guides and apps. They cover topics from stress to sleep and can be read online, downloaded or printed. Have a smartphone? Visit merseycare.orcha.co.uk to download clinically approved apps on smoking, mental health and other topics.

HEARING VOICES AND DISTURBING BELIEFS

Support for you

ANXIETY

Support for you BEREAVEMENT

Support for you HEALTH ANXIETY

Support for you

YOUR BUDGET

MEDICINE CABINET

You don’t have to break the bank. You can stock your medicine cabinet with self care essentials for around £10*

PAINKILLERS: Aspirin 49p Ibuprofen 59p Paracetamol 49p Antihistamines for allergies £1.99 Diarrhoea relief £1.15 Constipation relief £1.49 Throat lozenges 36p Antacid £1.99

WINTER

ACHES AND PAINS

CAN I TAKE PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROFEN TOGETHER?

Pain can feel harder to cope with during the cold and wet months of winter. Joint aches, muscle pain and even hangovers can be more difficult to manage and leave us feeling the worse for wear.

Non prescription, over the counter medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen can relieve symptoms of colds, headaches, joint and muscle pain, sinusitis, or painful middle ear infection (earache).

But sometimes paracetamol alone is just not enough, so it’s good to know that if you’re 16 or older, NHS advice is that it is safe to take paracetamol and ibuprofen together, at the same time or spaced apart.

If you’re troubled by every day, short lived pain you can take a dose of paracetamol followed by a dose of ibuprofen two hours later. But be aware that you should never take more than eight paracetamol tablets in any 24 hours.

Consider whether you need to take both types of pain relief. Importantly, check how they might react with any other medications you may be taking, especially if your other medications contain paracetamol.

• Your pharmacist can offer advice. If your painful symptoms don’t improve after three or four days, contact your GP or call NHS 111.

For medicines advice visit: nhs.uk