How to choose the right NHS service if you are unwell or injured

Lots of illnesses can be managed safely at home, or with a trip to a local pharmacist. This includes things like nappy rash, hay fever, head lice, dandruff, oral thrush, teething and warts. Your local pharmacist can give advice on lots of health issues and there’s no need for an appointment. Most have a consultation room so you can talk to them in private. If it’s needed, they’ll recommend seeing your GP. They can also help with questions about medication and make sure you’re taking it correctly. Almost 90% of the population has access to a community pharmacy within a 20-minute walk from their home.

Pharmacy First service

Many local pharmacies can now treat some common health problems and provide prescription medicine if needed – with no need for a GP appointment.

Some illnesses or injuries can be difficult to deal with at home. Or you may feel you need a bit of help after a few days.

You can see other healthcare professionals at your GP practice, not just doctors or nurses.

Some practices will ask you to fill in a form online. This helps them to see people who are very unwell, and makes sure you see the best person for your needs.

Appointments may be online, on the phone or face-to-face and can be made at evenings and weekends.

Your GP practice can help with lots of different health issues, including:

• Persistent cough (3 weeks or more)

• Ongoing sore throat (1 week or more)

• Continuing earache (3 days or more)

• Headaches that keep coming back

• Cystitis (water infection) that won’t go away (3 days or more)

• A breast lump

• Blood in your wee or poo

• Worries about the menopause

• Feeling low or anxious

• Ongoing or long-term conditions

GP out of hours service

The GP out of hours service is there if you need urgent medical care when your GP practice is closed. For details on how to access the service, call your practice and listen to the recorded message.

When you call the service, you may be given advice over the phone or a face-to-face appointment.

If you have pain in your mouth, teeth or gums, you will need to contact a dentist.

Contact your regular dentist, if you have one. If they’re closed, or you do not have a regular dentist, call the Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Care Service on: 0333 332 3800

This service is available from 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays. Please be aware that this service can be busy, you may need to wait however your call will always be answered.

The Emergency Department (A&E) is for serious and life or limb-threatening emergencies including but not limited to severe chest pain, stroke, difficulty breathing, bleeding you can’t stop, possible broken bones, severe allergic reactions, severe burns, loss of consciousness and other major conditions. The NHS has a service finder on its website and a link is provided here.

Choosing well helps keep the Emergency Department free for emergencies and those who are critically ill. Anyone attending who is considered by a health professional to be a non-emergency will instead be supported to access an alternative, more appropriate service such as a pharmacist, Urgent Treatment Centre, community service such as nursing, long-term condition support and therapy services, or other primary care service. We want to ensure that people aren’t unnecessarily waiting for long periods of time in our Emergency Department when they could have been seen and treated more appropriately and quicker elsewhere.

If you’re not sure what to do or where to go, go to NHS 111 online. It’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.

How NHS 111 online works

If you visit NHS 111 online, you’ll be asked to enter your age, sex, postcode and main symptom.

You are then asked a series of questions about your health problem.

You can:

• find out how to get the right healthcare in your area, including whether you need to see a GP or seek urgent care

• get advice on self-care

NHS 111 online is the the quickest and easiest way to get the help you need.

Call 111 instead if you:

• need help for a child under 5

• have complex problems caused by an existing medical condition

• have a care plan from your doctor for your current health problem

• need to get end-of-life care

• aren’t able to use the NHS online service

Mental Health support can be found at: https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/gtkwtg-mental-health-support/