NHS staff hit the road to offer advice on winter healthcare

NHS staff will take to the road this week to start spreading the word about health services available to patients during the winter months, as part of a campaign to help local people identify the right care during a traditionally busy period.

This week they will be visiting events in Wootton and Kempston, both in Bedford Borough, to share tips on using pharmacies to get treatment for less serious illnesses, and to remind them about other sources of advice which don’t need a trip to the doctor or the accident and emergency department.  Further visits across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are planned for the winter period.

Dr Ian Reckless, chief medical officer at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“In the past, we’ve relied on a message which simply told local people to get the right treatment.  Over time, we’ve come to realise that some residents don’t always know what the right treatment is, so we are looking to present more examples of what this might mean in different circumstances.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve spoken to hundreds and thousands of people in our area in line with the recommendations of the Denny Review into health inequalities and the experiences of people from all backgrounds.  It’s this learning which has persuaded us that we need to offer different advice this year.

“But some of our advice remains unchanged: for example, if you or your family are eligible to receive vaccinations against flu, COVID-19 or RSV then we recommend that you take them up as soon as possible.  These can be nasty infections causing really significant illness, and vaccination is the best way to avoid serious complications, especially among those who may be more vulnerable.”

As part of our campaign to help local people identify the ways to access the right care this winter, our engagement team are visiting local community groups to share tips and messages. If you work with a community group or know of a community event that would welcome a visit from our engagement team, we would love to hear from you, please reach out to Anona Hoyle, anona.hoyle@nhs.net with details and we will be in touch.