Please consider what the best options for your healthcare are, based on the urgency of your condition and nature of your ailment.<\/p>\n
This may save you time in getting the help you need, and avoid arranging an unnecessary appointment with your Doctor.<\/strong><\/p>\n A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest.<\/p>\n Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:<\/p>\n There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:<\/p>\n NHS – A-Z of Symptoms<\/a><\/p>\n NHS Live well<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/details>\n It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete\u2019s foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.<\/p>\n The Pharmacy First scheme provides advice, treatment and medicines for common ailments from your local pharmacy. How does it work?<\/p>\n If you have any common ailments, you can access the Pharmacy First scheme in two ways:<\/p>\n What is the pharmacy first scheme?<\/a><\/p>\n The New Medicine Service is available at Pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you\u2019re just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:<\/p>\n More about the\u00a0New Medicine Service<\/a><\/p>\n We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The\u00a0Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website<\/a>\u00a0is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.<\/p>\n Find a Pharmacy near you<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/details>\n We want to make access to psychological therapy as easy as possible; so we have created several ways for you to access our services.<\/p>\n How to access psychological therapies<\/a><\/p>\n Self referral<\/strong><\/p>\n To register your referral, we will need your name, date of birth, contact details including postal address, and name of the GP surgery you are registered with.<\/p>\n I want to self-refer for this service<\/a><\/p>\n We provide a wide range of foot health services\u00a0in Essex\u00a0and in the community. This includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, education and advice on disease and\u00a0deformities related to the foot and lower limb.<\/p>\n How can you get a referral?<\/strong><\/p>\n Any person registered with\u00a0us\u00a0can\u00a0be referred by their GP or apply to the service by submitting an application form. However, only people with a health condition\u00a0that impacts on the health of their feet, or people with a significant foot problem such as a wound, acutely ingrowing nail or painful\u00a0musculoskeletal condition, can be given access to the service.<\/p>\n I want to self-refer for foot care<\/a><\/p>\n You can book an appointment to see a stop smoking advisor at one of several\u00a0clinics in Southend<\/a>\u00a0that offer free support and medication on prescription to help\u00a0you quit<\/p>\n I would like help to quit smoking<\/a><\/p>\n Your antenatal care<\/strong><\/p>\n Community midwives run antenatal clinics in Children\u2019s Centres and GP practices close to where you live, and are often the first point of contact for pregnant women. It is important you contact your midwife a soon as possible in pregnancy so that they can plan your ongoing care with you.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/details>\n Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an optometrist. An optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.<\/p>\n Find an Optician in your area<\/a><\/p>\n If your optician is closed and you can\u2019t wait until it reopens call 111.<\/p>\n If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/details>\n For dental emergencies, call the dentist with whom you are registered. You should receive a recorded message advising you of the arrangements that have been made for emergency cover. If you have not registered with a dentist, please try to do so as soon as possible. Dentist\u2019s can perform an appropriate assessment and advise\u00a0on\u00a0necessary intervention including use of any antibiotics.<\/p>\n Further help and advice about Dental emergencies <\/a><\/p>\n If you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 111.<\/p>\n Dental emergencies are: acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth or trauma.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/details>\n If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, this website explains your options and where you can get support.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tHave you tried self-care?<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tGet immediate help from your local Pharmacy<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t
Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment.<\/h3>\n
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New Medicine Service<\/h3>\n
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Treat Yourself Better<\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\t\tSelf-referral Services that do not require a Practice appointment<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies<\/h3>\n
Podiatry<\/h3>\n
Stop Smoking<\/h3>\n
Maternity Services<\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\t\tEye Problems?<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tDental Emergency<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tDo you need Social Care and Support?<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t