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 the NHS website 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)

Common Cold

Cold sores

Earache / Ear Infections

Fireclay Health Ear Care leaflet

Catarrh and/or Sinusitis

Cough

Cough Information Leaflet

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis Information Leaflet

Flu (Influenza)

Flu Information Leaflet

Sore throat

Sore Throat Information Leaflet

Other Bodily Discomfort

Constipation	Haemorrhoids (Piles)
Diarrhoea	Headache or Migraine
Hayfever	Heartburn & Indigestion
Head lice	Insect bites & stings
Nappy rash	Sprains and strains
Painful periods	Thrush
Warts and Verrucas

Apps

See what is available on the NHS App Library

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 healthy eating & exercise

Change4Life (fun food & activity ideas to keep kids healthy)

The Eatwell Guide (NHS healthy eating information for adults)

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)

Stopping Smoking

Visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree or call the Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044 (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat/Sun 11am-4pm) - advisers are used to calls from people who are about to have a cigarette and want help not lighting up.

You can also access online chat support

Managing and reducing chronic pain

Watch Sean's story (YouTube video link) for inspiration about using alternative approaches to pain medication. Further information is available on the NHS website

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

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

SAMARITANS - Call FREE at ANY TIME 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
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
Rethink Mental Illness - advice and support for people suffering mental illness and their care

Child-focused:

HappyMaps - a Bristol MIND supported resource for parents & carers with local resources and support on children’s mental and emotional health
Kooth - an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people
Childline - a free, private and confidential phone, email or 1-1 counsellor service for children

Women-focused:

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

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

How we can Support You

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

NHS Health Check (once every 5 years for 40-74 year olds without a diagnosis of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes)
Physical Activity referral also known as "Exercise on Prescription"

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.