CAROLINE JONES

COLUMNIST

NHS staff work incredibly hard at this time of year trying to get people home for Christmas, yet face increased levels of demand in the days following December 25.

As we all prepare for the Christmas holiday, winding down in work, attending office parties, our incredible NHS staff continue to offer the same high level of care and absolute dedication.

Over the next few days they will have dealt with those of us who have had far too much Christmas spirit and in the days following Christmas they will face one of the busiest periods of the entire year.

Demand for urgent care is at unprecedented levels. In the past year there have been well over a million visits to accident and emergency units in Wales which equates to one in every three us needing emergency care.

A lot of this demand is being driven by the problems many of us face accessing our GP, particularly over the Christmas period.

While we need to recruit more GPs, we as individuals can also play a role in reducing the strain on our healthcare system.

We don’t need to see a GP for a bad cold and we certainly don’t need to turn up at A&E.

We have access to expert health advice locally in every community across Wales – our community pharmacies.

Pharmacists can provide advice on a range of common ailments and the medication needed to treat those illnesses without the need to wait to see a GP or visit a hospital.

In fact, pharmacists are better equipped to advise you on the best treatment for a whole range of winter illnesses.

We have to end our dependence on our GPs and our hospitals to treat every single ailment.

We wouldn’t call the fire brigade to put out a candle, so why do some people insist on going to hospital because they have a cold.

We have limited resources and we have to use those resources wisely.

My Christmas message is simple, use the appropriate health resource over the coming weeks so our doctors and nurses are free to treat those in genuine need.

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.