Winter is a busy time for the Trust and whilst we will always be there to care for those who need us, there is also a range of help available to those who might have a minor illness or injury which doesn’t require care in hospital.
With you this winter
Hertfordshire County Council have launched their new campaign to keep you well this winter. Through their ‘We’re with you this winter’ webpage, they provide advice and support to help every resident navigate the rising cost of living and stay safe and healthy as temperatures drop.
Please visit Hertfordshire County Council’s website for more information.
Choose well
Using the right health services is not only good for individuals but helps the NHS as a whole by making sure resources are used in the right way.
There are things we can all do to be #WinterReady:
- If you’re invited to then get your flu jab, this is most important if you are over 65, have a long term illness or are pregnant. There is more about vaccinations on the Integrated Care System’s website.
- Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home. You can buy all the items you need from your local pharmacist or supermarket, own brand medicines are available often at little cost compared to branded medicines. You probably won’t need to keep all these items in your medicine cabinet “just in case” but you may want to include a selection of those you use most often.
- Keep yourself healthy by eating well and exercising.
- You can help stop infections spreading by washing hands, cleaning surfaces regularly and coughing or sneezing into tissues and then throwing them away after use.
For conditions like coughs and colds, or a stomach bug you are best off looking after yourself to begin with then seeking help if your condition doesn’t improve.
- For colds and flu it is best to rest, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
- For norovirus again rest and drink plenty of fluids. You should also stay off work or school for 48 hours after the symptoms finish. If you can, stay away from other people who could catch the virus from you, particularly older people and children. Please don’t visit relatives in hospital or care homes as norovirus spreads easily, can make patients very poorly and can lead to the closure of hospital wards or homes.
For 24-hour urgent health advice visit NHS 111 online or call 111. Urgent treatment is available 7 days a week to treat injuries like sprains, cuts, grazes, bites, stings, burns and scalds and minor illnesses. Please keep our Emergency Department free for life or limb-threatening accidents and illnesses.
Visit your pharmacist (chemist) for advice on medicines or when you are suffering from common ailments that don’t need to be seen by a nurse or doctor, such as coughs, colds and sore throats.
If you have an illness that just won’t go away get in contact with your GP practice via their website and they can arrange the most suitable help for you.
For more information about how you can choose well this winter, please visit the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB webpage.
Helping your loved ones during their stay in hospital
We know how difficult it can be when a loved one is in hospital, particularly during the festive season.
There are things families and friends can do to support their loved one whilst they are in hospital and help them get home quickly once they are well enough:
- Encourage your loved one to ask the doctors and nurses looking after them “When am I going home?” At the end of the day nothing is better than a patient’s own bed and good sleep is important for recovery. At home they will have the comfort of their own bed without the noise and clatter of a busy hospital.
- Support your loved one with a steady routine and getting up and out of bed where possible Being in hospital can make it easier to just stay in bed, but lying down all day makes your muscles weaker. The longer a patient stays in a hospital bed, the harder they may find it to get up and about as they get better.
- Learn more about the Hospital at Home programme to see whether your loved ones are eligible to receive hospital-equivalent care in the comfort of their own home. Find out more about the programme via our website.
- Consider whether you would be able to take your loved one home when they are ready to be discharged This will ensure your loved one gets a comfortable journey home and means their discharge won’t be dependent on our busy patient transport service being available.
