Help vulnerable neighbours stay healthy urge medical chiefs
HEALTH service chiefs have urged residents to check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbours as the winter draws on.
Family doctors who cover Hinckley and Bosworth want people to look out for their elderly and vulnerable relatives and neighbours this winter - and make sure they do not ‘soldier on’ in silence as winter starts to bite.
Older people, and those with longterm health conditions, are particularly susceptible to illness and isolation at this time of year, yet it can sometimes be difficult for those at risk to admit they need help and many try to get by without seeking the help they need.
Dr Peter Cannon, Leicestershire GP, says winter is a time when communities should come together to support people in need - and encourage them to seek medical assistance before illness becomes so serious they need to be admitted to hospital.
He said: “All too often we see elderly and vulnerable people having to be treated in hospital for lengthy periods with symptoms that might not have become so serious and could have been managed effectively at home if they’d only sought help sooner.
“This is often the result of people trying to ‘soldier on’ through adversity because they don’t want to cause inconvenience to their families or bother their GP or pharmacist with something they feel is insignificant.
“If you are aged over 75 or you are living with a long-term medical condition such as a respiratory illness, don’t wait when you’re feeling ill - get help straight away.
“Speak to your local pharmacist first and they’ll either recommend an overthe-counter medicine to alleviate your symptoms, or tell you if you need to see your GP.
“If you have a friend, neighbour or relative who is vulnerable then you can do your bit to help by checking in on them regularly and making sure they have everything they need to stay well this winter.”
For more information on staying well this winter visit www.nhs.uk/staywell