Stock up your medicine cabinet
Summer is now here and is the ideal time to stock up your medicine cabinet.
Having a stock of items which will help you deal with minor injury and illness at home means you won’t have a mad dash to your pharmacy if illness or injury occurs – and you won’t end up unnecessarily at your hospital’s A&E department.
Ask your local pharmacist what would be best to stock up on, but as a general rule the basic essentials are:
Paracetamol – to relive most aches and pains, headaches and menstrual pain
Oral rehydration salts – these help to restore your body’s natural balance of fluid and minerals if you are suffering from diarrhoea, fever or vomiting
Anti-diarrhoea tablets
Sticking plasters – for cuts and grazes
Indigestion remedy – to relieve heartburn, stomach ache and trapped wind
Be prepared and ready to deal with unexpected minor injury and illness this summer!
The NHS belongs to you, please do not waste medicines
Wasted medicines are costing the NHS almost £300 million every year and GPs in Suffolk are seeking your help to reduce that waste:
Check what you need before placing your order
Do not stockpile medication
Always check your bag of medicines before you leave the pharmacy and hand back what you do not need
Once medicines have left the pharmacy they cannot be recycled
If you are still ordering repeat prescription medication and aren’t using it yourself, please speak to your GP or pharmacist. They won’t be annoyed or angry, in fact they’ll be pleased to help you resolve the issue. They’ll help ensure that you have the right medicine for your needs, which will in turn reduce the amount of wasted NHS medicines.
www.westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk
www.ipswichandeastsuffolkccg.nhs.uk