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CHOOSE WELL IF YOU’RE ILL!
Bought to you by the Iwade Health Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG)
If you are feeling unwell but you are not sure of the best course of action to take, then this simple
Choose Well guide will help you decide. There are a range of local NHS services to choose from and
you don't always need to see a GP or go to A&E
SELF CARE
This is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses, ailments and injuries.
A well-stocked medical cabinet can help you to deal with minor accidents and injuries at home.
With any medicine you have at home, be careful and make sure they are safely stored according to
their labels and are within their use-by dates. Keep your medicines safe from little ones at all times by
locking your medical cabinet. Some medicines can be harmful to children, so be aware of the doses
you are giving.
PHARMACIES
Pharmacists (chemists) are a great source of health care service advice and information.
They are experts in medicines and how medicines work. They can also help you decide if you need to
see a doctor.They can help with issues like:
Dispensing medicines and how to use them safely, emergency hormonal contraception, minor
ailments - a pharmacist can help with prescription treatments for conjunctivitis, cystitis, impetigo and
more without you needing to visit your health centre.
GP/ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER
Advance Nurse Practitioners are a very useful asset for any health centre. They can deal with all the
same things as a GP, apart from certifying death, new baby checks or high level pain relief such as
morphine. They can issue prescriptions, diagnose ailments and offer advice on health issues. It’s not
necessary to always see your GP for every health centre visit.
Your GP or ANP can help if you have an illness or injury that won’t go away. For on the day
appointments, try to call as soon as they open as there are always appointments held back for ‘on the
day’ patients. Once these are gone, the reception staff may suggest alternatives such as walk in
centres.
NHS 111
The new NHS 111 service is the best number to call if you have an urgent medical need and it is not
life threatening. They will be able to offer you advice on treatment and refer you to the nearest
available health service for your medical condition i.e. an urgent care centre/walk in centres oryour
local GP Out of Hours service.
ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY (or 999)
An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation, and A&E departments or the 999 ambulance
service should only be used in these situations. A critical situation can include someone suffering:
Unconsciousness, a suspected stroke, heavy blood loss, a deep wound such as a stab wound, a
suspected heart attack, difficulty in breathing, severe burns.
MINOR INJURIES/WALK IN CENTRES
Minor injuries such as sprains, dressing changes and minor burns can be treated at the Minor Injuries
Units in Sheppey and Sittingbourne, both open from 9am to 9pm, 365 days a year. They are at
Sheppey Community Hospital, Plover Road, Minster-on-Sea, ME12 3LT (01795 879199) and at
Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, Bell Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DT (01795 418300).