Alzheimer’s Society
25A Olav Road, Richmond, DL10 4PU
Tel: 01748 825817
Self-care is about looking after yourself in a healthy way.
It can be anything from brushing your teeth, continuing to take care of personal appearance, doing some exercise, managing common conditions (like headaches, colds and flu) or living with a long-term health problem, such as 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 have 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.
As well as charities, there are a number of health and social services into which you can self-refer without the need of a formal referral from your doctor. You can find links below.
Don’t forget your local pharmacist can assist with medication queries, offer advice regarding minor ailments and sexual health and provide emergency contraception.
Everyday lifestyle advice
Top 10 healthy heart tips
Check your weight
Want to eat well?
Want to lose weight?
How to exercise more
Struggling to sleep?
Want to cut down alcohol?
Help to stop smoking
Your sexual health
Your mental wellbeing
Kickstart your health
Self-care for common conditions
Did you know that one in five GP visits are for common conditions, such as backache, headache, cold 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 talk to or 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.
Self-care factsheets
The Self Care Forum has produced factsheets to help you take care of the most common ailments. Research shows people using these factsheets felt more able to manage their common condition. These provide useful facts about your condition such as what you can expect to happen, how to help yourself, when you should contact your GP and where to find out more information.
More health resources and information
Use the links below for information on mental wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic, seasonal flu and to look up symptoms online.
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 it’s 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
- Diabetes
- COPD
- Hypertension
We will also work in partnership with you to create the right care plan for your needs. It’s 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. NHS suggests some questions you could ask:
- Where can I find out about 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 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
The NHS self-care toolkit has practical tips on living with a long-term condition including:
- 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:
Choose well and stay well
Helping you choose the right service for you and your NHS
There are more options than you might think…
Self-care
Self-care is the best choice to treat minor illness and injuries including headaches, sore throats, stomach upsets, coughs, colds, cuts and grazes.
A large range of common illness and injuries can be treated at home with simple over-the counter medicines, advice and guidance online and plenty of rest. Be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
Pharmacy
Expert advice and treatment for minor symptoms and conditions including diarrhoea, earache, ear wax, coughs, colds, rashes, teething, fungal nail infections, varicose veins, allergies.
Making the most of these services can avoid unnecessary trips to your GP or A&E and can save time. No appointment is needed and most pharmacies have private consulting areas. Some are open late and at weekends. If your symptoms carry on longer than is expected for a minor illness then contact a GP.
Find your nearest pharmacy including opening times:
GP Practice
For more significant illness and long-term medical problems. GPs and nurses have an excellent understanding of general health issues and can deal with a range of health problems including supporting patients with long-term health conditions. Look out for unexplained symptoms such as:
- blood that doesn’t come from an obvious injury
- lump
- weight loss which feels significant to you
- pain that does not go away
NHS 111
If you’re feeling unwell, unsure or if you want health advice and guidance for non-life threatening emergencies call 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit the website:
Urgent treatment centre/minor injuries
Harewood Medical Practice does not treat patients for minor injuries on a drop-in basis. Minor injuries are things like sprains, strains, suspected broken bones, ear and throat infections, skin infections and rashes, eye problems, minor head injuries, and minor burns.
The nearest urgent treatment centre is Friarage Hospital, Northallerton – open 24 hours >
Away from home? Find an urgent treatment centre >
A&E or 999
For serious injuries and emergencies including severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, severe chest pain, loss of consciousness.
There are two A&E departments in the area:
James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW
Darlington Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, DL3 6HX
If it’s not a life-threatening emergency please consider making your own way to your local A&E department – arriving in an ambulance does not mean you’ll be seen any quicker.
Away from home? Find A&E services >
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Get the latest NHS information and advice:
Mental health advice, services and support
Sexual health, pregnancy advice and contraception
Addiction support, stopping smoking
Travel health advice and clinics
Physiotherapy
General/other health
Working in partnership with Risedale Sports & Community College to promote good school attendance, good health and resilience in young people.
Social care, carer support, independent living
HR Carers (Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers)
Email: info@hrcarers.org.uk
Telephone: 01609 780872
Living Well
An initiative within social services offering a 12 week programme of support for the vulnerable or socially isolated with low-level social needs.
Tel: 01609 780780 (option 2)
Email: living.well@northyorks.gov.uk
North Yorkshire Connect
A community directory for North Yorkshire offering local information from community and voluntary organisations that can provide advice and support. It also lists activities and things to do.
Home from Hospital
Helps patients to be more confident and comfortable when returning home, with support for up to 6 weeks.
Tel: 01423 863177
Health and social care – NYCC
Tel: 01609 780780