What is self care?

Self care is about looking after yourself in a healthy way. It can be anything from doing some exercise, managing common conditions (also sometimes called minor ailments) like headaches, coughs & colds and hay fever or living with a long-term health problem, such as asthma or diabetes.

Please see attached leaflet and video for useful guidance on self care.

Leaflet - Self Care with Over the Counter Products. 

Self Care video.

Please see Minor Illness (under Your Health in the website footer)

Advice Leaflets/Links

We hope the following information from NHS Choices supplemented by Fireclay Health advice leaflets will help you to safely self-manage common ailments initially but also to know when you should see a GP if your condition is not improving.  Please take a look and encourage others to look here too - there is a huge pressure on GP appointments and the more we can do as individuals to manage our own health and well-being, the more appointments will be freed up to ensure patients with serious conditions can be seen promptly by a GP.

Viral illness (typically - sometimes bacterial or other origin)

Other Bodily Discomfort

Advice Leaflets & Apps 

Self Care Apps

HANDi (Apple/Android - free download) - expert support for common childhood illnesses 

ESC Student (Apple/Android - cost applies) - helping students answer common health questions

Health & Wellbeing

Modern life makes it hard to be healthy.  Making better choices today can have a huge influence on our health but it's not easy in our busy lives.  One You (a Public Health England website) can help support you to make simple changes towards a longer and happier life.

Take the One You health quiz (for over 18s) to see how you score and start the fight back to a healthier you.

Feel better through exercise  

Read about Physical Activity for Health - some local exercise options are listed below:  

• Walking for Health (including St George Strollers)

• Staying Steady classes (aimed at over 65s - available locally at Brunel Fitness Centre)

• Run4Life courses in Bristol

• www.lifecycleuk.org.uk  (free cycle training etc)

Managing and reducing persistent pain

Tame the Beast is a website which can help you learn new approaches to reducing pain and get you moving towards recovery

How we can Support You

Ask at Reception to book an appointment with an HCA for:

• an NHS Health Check (for 40-74 year olds without a pre-existing condition, once every 5 years)

• Stop Smoking services

• referral to Weight management and Exercise on Prescription schemes (including Alive n Kicking for children)

Organisations Offering Support

Recommended information sources

www.nhs.uk - gateway to National Health Service organisations and health information

patient.info- evidence-based medical information for patients and health professionals, including leaflets

Wellaware - a resource site for local activities
Tel. 0808 808 5252 (Freephone 9.30am - 4.30 pm, Mon-Fri)
A free telephone and online information database for everyone in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, with information on around 5,000 health, wellbeing and community groups, organisations, activities and services, including personal health services, lunch clubs, social groups to help around the house, help with transport, advice, counselling or any other form of support, information for carers, support for particular disabilities, culturally specific services and more.

Local Organisations & Initiatives

Bristol Aging Better and LinkAge (for ages 55+)

Wellspring - a community-led health living and wellbeing centre in Barton Hill

Local community centres:  St George   Easton    Kingswood    Fishponds (the Beechwood Club)    Hanham

The Care Forum - promoting health and wellbeing, including advocacy services

Local NHS Organisations

North Bristol NHS Trust (Southmead Hospital)

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (8 hospitals including BRI, Children's, St Michael's, Dental, Eye, Homeopathic)

Community Children's Health Partnership

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

• Bristol Wellbeing Therapies courses - register online for free courses on a range of psychological and emotional difficulties, e.g. managing stress/anxiety/anger/worry. Form screened by clinician and place offered if appropriate. Not available to patients currently accessing talking therapies with BWT.

• Ways to Wellbeing - free social support in the greater Fishponds area

• Wellbeing through Nature courses (Avon Wildlife Trust)

• Bristol MIND - for better mental health, including MindLine helpline 

• Womankind - providing free or affordable therapy to women in the Bristol area

• Missing Link - women's mental health services

• Mothers for Mothers - local postnatal depression support group

• Childline - a free, private and confidential phone, email or 1-1 counsellor service for children

• Rethink Mental Illness - advice and support for people suffering mental illness and their carers

• SAMARITANS - Call FREE at ANY TIME 116 123 or email jo@samartitans.org

Drugs and Alcohol Support

• Alcoholics Anonymous UK - if you think you have a problem with drinking

• Al-Anon UK - if your life is affected by someone else's drinking

• ROADS (Bristol Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service) - a Bristol-wide service to support anyone directly or indirectly affected by the problems associated with drug and alcohol misuse

• Narcotics Anonymous UK  and/or Cocaine Anonymous UK

Domestic and Sexual Abuse - Support for Victims and Perpetrators

• The Bridge - help after rape and sexual assault.  24 hour help line, including self-referral for Forensic Medical Examination

• National Domestic Violence 24 hour Freephone Helpline

• Next Link - domestic abuse support, including safe houses for women

• Safe Link - sexual abuse support (for women, men or children)

• Respect  - a confidential and anonymous telephone and email service for anyone concerned about their violence and/or abuse towards a partner or ex-partner

• Men's Advice Line - advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse