Keeping Well This Winter
Make an appointment with your GP if you are in pain or worried about a condition. Check your GP opening times over Christmas in case you need to contact them. To contact a GP out of hours please call NHS 111 Wales.
Order any repeat prescriptions in advance to make sure you have enough over the Christmas period. Some pharmacies will be open for limited periods over the bank holidays or may be closed completely.
You can get some emergency prescriptions which will cover you for five days. You will only get one if it is a genuine emergency, it is not a controlled drug (e.g. morphine, pethidine, methadone), you go to the pharmacy in person and it is impossible to see your GP. Please note – there may be a charge for this.
Search for your local pharmacy.
In Cardiff and Vale, you must call NHS 111 Wales first if you need to access the Emergency Unit or Minor Injuries Unit, or if you require urgent care out of hours.
By calling 111, a call handler will assess your condition and help you get the right help, at the right place, first time. Callers will receive health advice over the phone, and if further assessment is required, a clinician from CAV 24/7 will call you back.
If you need to be seen at the Urgent Primary Care Centre (Out-of-Hours), or require assessment at the Emergency Unit or Minor Injuries Unit, CAV 24/7 clinicians will arrange this for you if necessary.
If you are spending time away from home this Christmas, make sure you pack enough medication. It is also important to find out what health services (including GP out of hours) are available in the area you are visiting.
Whether you are cooking at home this Christmas, or reusing leftovers, it’s important to maintain good food hygiene at Christmas by following the ‘4Cs’ of cleaning, chilling, cooking and avoiding cross-contamination.
Learn more about food hygiene on the Food Standards Agency website.
If you get food poisoning, you can usually treat yourself or your child at home. Learn more on the NHS 111 Wales Website.
You can check how many units are in your drinks by using the alcohol units calculator. Never Drink and Drive. When you are out, keep your drink with you at all times, avoid walking home on your own and keep your personal belongings close to you at all times.
South Wales Police are encouraging us to:
- Look out for friends and loved ones,
- Stay together on nights out,
- Not leave drinks unattended
- Not accept any you didn’t see being poured.
- Plan your journey home in advance
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have put together twelve 'Elf and safety' tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
If you are 65 or over, or in one of the other at-risk groups, it's important to get medical help as soon as you feel unwell.
You can get help and advice from:
- a pharmacy – pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor. Find a pharmacy near you.
- your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to. Find contact details of your GP.
The sooner you get advice, the sooner you are likely to get better.
Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.
The increase in the cost of energy has made keeping your home warm more difficult, but keeping warm is important to keep yourself well.
NHS 111 Wales have provided the below tips to keep you and your family warm and well at home:
- if you're not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition, such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18C
- keep your bedroom at 18C all night if you can – and keep bedroom window closed
- if you're under 65, healthy and active, you can safely have your home cooler than 18C, as long as you're comfortable
- use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but do not use both at the same time
- have at least 1 hot meal a day – eating regularly helps keep you warm
- have hot drinks regularly
- to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), babies should sleep in rooms heated to between 16C and 20C
- draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block out draughts
- get your heating system checked regularly by a qualified professional
Help with your Heating Costs
If you are struggling with energy bills, you can get more information on the help available from:
Check on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or breathing (respiratory) problems, to make sure they:
- are safe and well
- are warm enough, especially at night
- have stocks of food and medicines so they do not need to go out during very cold weather
If you're worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, contact your local council or call the Age Cymru helpline on 029 2043 1555. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.
If you're concerned the person may have hypothermia, contact NHS 111 Wales.
Sometimes you may need help and support to make sense of how you’re feeling and manage your thoughts. This can range from using self-help resources, to accessing support from organisations and charities, and seeing your GP.
If you need urgent mental health support, you can now call 111 and press option 2.
111 Press 2 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is there to support individuals across Cardiff and Vale who are experiencing a mental health crisis, or are unsure of what help is available to support them with their mental health.
The number is free to call from a landline or mobile and is available for anyone living within the Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
In life threatening situations, please always call 999 or attend the nearest Emergency Unit.
- The SilverCloud website offers online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programmes for people aged 16 and over with mild to moderate levels of depression, anxiety or stress
- Discover free courses on a range of mental health and wellbeing on our Recovery & Wellbeing College pages
- Find out about Open Access Courses available through the Stepiau website, with topics from stress, to acceptance and compassion
- The Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit on Welsh Government’s Hwb website offer six playlists that direct you to a wide range of online resources to help you through the lockdown and beyond, for young people age 11-25
- View a series of 23 self-help guides on the Stepiau website, which give a useful first step to understanding thoughts and feelings relating to various mental health topics.
There are a number of local groups who you can contact to access additional support.
- Cardiff Mind and Mind in the Vale of Glamorgan offer counselling and other services
- Samaritans – Cardiff and District are contactable 24/7 via phone, email, letter or via their Self-Help App
Symptoms vary considerably for different mental health conditions, but here are some broader signs that you may need support from your GP:
- excessive paranoia, worry or anxiety
- prolonged sadness or irritability
- extreme changes in moods
- social withdrawal
- big changes in sleeping or eating patterns
Seeing your GP is an important step to getting the right support. When you speak with your GP, you should be as open and honest as possible about how you’re feeling – this will allow your GP to fully understand your experiences and get you the right help. Feel free to take a family member or friend along for moral support if you feel like it will help.
Every school in our area has access to a school nurse and counsellor, who are able to support children and young people.
The Chat Health Service is also available for 11-19 year-olds in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. You can text your school nurse on 07520 615718 for confidential advice and support.
Find out more about mental health support for children and young people.
With an increased chance of snow and ice in winter, slips, trips and falls are more likely. There is a higher risk of serious injury if frail or vulnerable people have a fall. These simple measures can reduce the chance of falls.
- take extra care and walk slowly on slippery ground
- wear shoes with good grip. Flat footwear with rubber soles provides better traction on ice and snow
- use non-slip floor mats and rugs
- plan your route and avoid rushing or taking shortcuts
- take small steps to keep your centre of balance under you
- avoid carrying heavy items, especially on steps
- keep both hands free for balance, rather than in your pockets
- be aware of your surroundings, some places will stay icy for longer than others
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