We are keen to help patients improve on self help and hope that the following information will offer some insight into that.
Take a look and see if you can improve your own understanding of your health and well-being! Please encourage others to look here too.
Self care for common conditions
Did you know that one in five GP visits are for common conditions, such as backache, headache or cough?
For most people, they are not serious health problems - you just want to know how to relieve it and you want a treatment that acts fast. You also want to know how long you're going to suffer or what you should do if your symptoms change.
The good news is that self care can help you manage most of these problems. It may mean you don't have to spend time waiting to see your GP but can get on and start tackling your symptoms. Self care for common conditions can also help free up some of your GP's time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.
Common ailments that can be self managed :
Find out more about self care for common conditions
The Self Care Forum has provided Factsheets to help you take care of the most common ailments. These provide useful facts about your condition, what you can expect to happen, how to help yourself, when you should see your GP and where to find out more information. Research shows people using these Factsheets felt more able to manage their common condition.
Click on the link for the Factsheet you need:
For more information on other common conditions, visit NHS Choices or Patient UK websites.
If you need more advice or you are unsure what the right thing for you to do is, ask your pharmacist for advice or call the surgery to speak to a doctor or make an appointment to discuss your problem further.
Self care for long-term conditions
Did you know that if you are living with a long-term condition, you will spend, on average, six hours a year with a healthcare professional and the remaining 8,754 hours managing your health for yourself?
Living with a long-term condition brings challenges and its important to have the confidence, support and information to manage your health. Self care can help you make the most of living with your condition, rather than avoiding or missing out on things because of it. Self care puts you in control.
Research shows that people with long-term conditions who take more control of their health feel more able to cope with their health problem, have better pain management, fewer flare ups and more energy,
We are committed to helping you live your life with a long-term condition. That's why we run services where you can get advice on the following conditions:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Diabetes
- Chronic conditions
We will also work in partnership with you to create the right care plan for your needs. Its important to think about what you want from a care plan - it can help if you know what you want to discuss with your GP. Examples of questions you could ask;
- Where can I find out self help courses for people who have long term conditions?
- I want to find out more about my condition. What are the best places to do this?
- Is there any new equipment that might help me manage my day-to-day. If so, how do I get it?
- How do I meet other people who have the same condition as me? Is there a local or national support group?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make to help my health, such as giving up smoking, avoiding certain foods, or doing more of a certain type of exercise?
- What are the results of my tests and what do they mean for me?
- What happens next?
- What can I do?
- What can the doctor do?
Tips for living with a long-term condition
NHS Choices has created some practical tips on living with a long-term condition. To download a leaflet that explains these in more detail, click here:
- Accept you have a persistent health condition…and then begin to move on
- Get involved - building a support team
- Pacing - pacing your daily activities
- Learn to prioritise and plan your days
- Setting goals/action plans
- Being patient with yourself
- Learn relaxation skills
- Exercise
- Keep a diary and track your progress
- Have a plan for set backs
- Team work - work with your practice team
- Keeping it up
Find out more about self care for long term conditions
There is a range of free courses aimed at helping people who are living with a long term condition to manage their condition better on a daily basis:
These courses usually run over several sessions and will provide advice and tools put you in control of your condition. Ask your GP or Practice Nurse for details of courses in this area or visit NHS Choices.
The following websites provide good information that can help you understand more about the common condition or long term health problem that affects you:
Kirklees Self Care
Better in Kirklees
Better in Kirklees is a social prescribing service that supports people to be active and involved in their community, keeping people happier, healthier and independent for longer. BiK connects people to a wide range of community activities, support and networks such as arts and cultural groups, sports activities, environmental projects and friendship groups. BiK workers talk to each person about how they would like to improve their health and wellbeing, offering information, support and encouragement so that they can get involved in community activities, get out and about near to where they live and, with support, take part in something that they enjoy. We are building a bank of Peer Champion volunteers, people who have experience of living with long term conditions or mental health, who can help people across groups and activities that would suit them.
We are compiling a Better in Kirklees network of organisations, groups and activities who would be able to welcome new participants - if you would like to be added to the list, get in touch on 01924 846809 or email bik@touchstonesupport.org.uk
Referrals can be made by GP's and adult social workers by phone to the referral line 01924 846808 or through the Care First system.
Who can be referred? Adults over 18 who have two or more long term health conditions, or social care needs, including physical disability, sensory impairment, learning disability, mental health issues, drug/alcohol issues and/or are an unpaid carer and are living in Kirklees.
For further information on other health issues please find a list of websites which may be of help.
Adult Support
Adult Reading Support
Carers Support
Carers Count
Stay safe and warm
Spinal Pain
Sheffield Back Pain
Health Talk Online
NHS Choices
Neurological Symptoms
The Nerve Centre - Kirklees - supporting people with neurological conditions
Coeilac Information
Think Coeliac
Osteoperosis
National Osteoporosis Society
Self Care
What is self care?
Self care is about looking after yourself in a health way. It can be anything from vrushing your teeth, doing some exercise, managing common conditions (like headaches, colds and flu) or living with a long-term health problem, such asthma or diabetes.
As a Self Care Aware practice we are here to help you feel able to look after your own health when it is right for you. So, when you come in for a consultation, the doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants in this practice will talk to you about what you can do to help maintain and improve your health.
Did you know?
- The NHS belongs to all of us - help us to keep it working smoothly by turning up for appointments
- Every time you see a GP it costs the NHS £43, on average, for a 12 minute consultation
- A visit to Accident and Emergency costs £112
Self care for healthy living
Staying healthy is important for veryone, even if you are living with a long term condition. This means eating healthily, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and drinking in moderation.
This practice runs smoking cessation clinics and alcohol awareness advice that can help you live a healthy lifestyle. Speak to the practice team for more information.
NHS Choices provides lots of useful information on how you can improve your health and wellbeing.