About this service
❌
DON'T KNOW WHERE TO
START WITH SELF-CARE?
We recommend visiting NHS.UK to look up your condition first and follow the official advice there. If that doesn't help, then use our symptom checker or help page to tell you who you need to see (use the search function on each page).
If you have time, please browse the links below, which include common conditions and leaflets written by our doctors, as well as other very useful sites, leaflets and information posters so that you can start to help yourself.
What does it do?
Examples are shown below. Click the links to go to official NHS advice or download a leaflet written by our doctors.
Can I refer myself?
Self-referral is not applicable
How do I get to it?
Visit the links above, download information leaflets below, or use the official NHS conditions A-Z guide .
We encourage patients to make up a home remedies box for self-care treatment at home.
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NHS health conditions A-Z
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NHS 111 online triage service
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Self-care factsheets
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Live Life Better Derbyshire, e.g., stop smoking, weight
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Derby Live Well
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HANDi Paediatric
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Comprehensive patient info
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Surgery symptom checker
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Surgery winter self-care page
Make a home remedies box
We recommend that all households make up a 'home remedies' box to help with minor ailments. Do check that you are not allergic to any of these remedies before using
You do not need authorisation from a GP to make up your own home remedies box - by its very nature, a home remedies box is for your own home and part of self-care
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Paracetamol
For fever and pain, obtain this in various formulations for different members of the family, e.g., tablets, suspension, melts
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Anti-inflammatory pain killer (NSAIDs)
For aches and pain, e.g., joints, periods pains, muscle aches. Ibuprofen is a common one
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Anti-histamines
For allergies, hives (urticaria), itch. Common ones are piriton and clarityn
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Antacids
To help ease indigestion and heartburn. Seek advice if you need to take antacids regularly without a formal diagnosis
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Creams
A mild cortisone cream like hydrocortisone can help reduce inflammation caused by insect bites and eczema. Antiseptic creams can help reduce the risk of minor scrapes, cuts and bites becoming infected
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Dressings
A simple first aid kit with some plasters, basic dressings, scissors, tweezers (for removing stings and foreign bodies like splinters), is always useful.
How to get back here?
Bookmark this page in your browser by pressing CTRL and D or type the shortcut ivy.gs/selfcare
Self-care