One of the ways to take care of yourself this winter is to make sure your medicine cabinet is well stocked. Minor conditions such as colds, coughs and sore throats can be easily treated with supplies you can keep at home. It costs as little as £10 to stock your medicine cabinet and this can make a big difference to your health this winter.

We recommend always having the following items at home:

• Painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol
• Aspirin (should not be taken by children under 12)
• Antihistamines for allergies
• Diarrhoea relief
• Constipation relief
• Throat lozenges
• Antacid

You should also have a fully-stocked first aid kit with plasters and bandages. In the summer, make sure you have sunscreen and also antiseptic cream for bites and stings.

Luvjit Kandula, Chief Officer for Leicestershire and Rutland Local Pharmaceutical Committee  says: “One tip for self care is to familiarise yourself with all the different ways you can get medical help if you need it. NHS 111 is available 24/7 to give advice on how to treat any illnesses or injuries you may have.

“All pharmacists are equipped to give you advice on treating minor illnesses or can point you in the direction of more help if necessary. They can also advise on ways you can make small changes to have a healthier lifestyle.”

For more information on Self Care Week visit the Self Care Forum website. You can also get help and advice on looking after your health on our Your Health Services page.

Useful resources

• Find out what should be in your medicine cabinet this winter
• Find your local pharmacy

From today, patients who receive wheelchair, orthotics and prosthetics services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will receive their care from Opcare, part of the Ability Matters Group.

This service was previously provided by Blatchford. Opcare were appointed following engagement with patients in 2017 and a procurement process earlier this year.

Opcare has been providing specialist prosthetic, orthotic, and mobility services throughout the UK and Ireland for over 25 years.

Through Opcare, patients will receive the following service benefits:

• Convenient locations: The service will be provided from the same central location in the Meridian area of Leicester that patients will already be familiar with. Clinics will also be available in most of the community hospitals in Leicestershire and Rutland: Hinckley Hospital, Rutland Memorial Hospital, Loughborough Hospital, Market Harborough Hospital, Melton Mowbray and Coalville.
• More joined up care: Many patients use more than one of the services, for example, wheelchairs and prosthetics. Patients will now have a single point of contact for all three services.
• Easier access: Gaining access to the service will be easier, with more health professionals able to make referrals as well as GPs. Patients will also be able to refer themselves.
• Continuity of care: Patients will continue to be cared for by the same staff – patients have told us that they really value this.

Letters are in the process of being sent out to existing patients of the service. Any existing appointments arranged with Blatchford, will now be carried out by Opcare.

If you have any queries or to arrange new appointments, please call Opcare on 0116 296 8400.

Sue Lock, Managing Director of Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) speaking on behalf of the three CCGs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland said: 

“At the Collaborative Commissioning Board today the three CCGs have confirmed that they remain committed to supporting University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust’s (UHL) plan for consolidating level 3 intensive care services in line with the formal decisions already made by each of the CCG Governing Bodies in November 2017 and July 2018.  Specially, this includes approving the outline business case in November 2017 and approving the full business case in July 2018.  

“The Board also restated their commitment to greater involvement of patients, the public and stakeholders in discussion of future proposed changes – particularly those that are likely to result in significant changes to the way in which services are delivered.

“In their discussion the Board felt that the case for moving intensive care from the Leicester General site relates to the ability of the services to run safely when there are significant and ongoing operational difficulties including staff recruitment and retention issues and concerns over the cramped layout and appropriate facilities for patient care.

“It therefore agreed that in the interests of ensuring continued safe services for patients while significant capital funding is available, that the work to deliver the move of intensive care services from the General Hospital site should proceed. 

“However, in recognition of the concerns raised by members of Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the public, the Board supported the plans to use the Better Care Together engagement events in late October and November to engage in a broader discussion with patients and the public on the intensive care proposals before contracts with the preferred provider are concluded.”  

“The events will provide the opportunity to discuss the implementation of the plans, explain to the public the clinical need and urgency and to listen to and address any concerns or suggestions the public may have.

“The planned changes increase intensive care capacity and have been designed in a way that does not make further future changes to other services at the General Hospital site inevitable. There will be a full and formal public consultation on these wider changes before any decision on the future of the General Hospital site and its services are determined. 

Sue Lock added: “National NHS planning guidance means we cannot begin formal public consultation on these wider proposals until we have confirmation of the capital funding needed. However, in delivering on our commitment for greater public involvement, we are undertaking a full engagement programme to share more widely the plans for acute hospital reconfiguration, maternity services and some aspects of community services. People will have the opportunity to speak to us at these events about the plans for intensive care services and why we need to proceed.”

Invitations and information about the Better Care Together events have been circulated, Details can be found on the Better Care Together website or by calling the Better Care Together team on 0116 295 4104.