How to Stay Healthy This Winter Post Date : December 19, 2024 General Health 2 minutes read NHS chiefs warn that urgent and emergency care services are under “significant pressure” and that many patients will face longer waits during the colder months. To help with the demands, the NHS announced the upgrade of its 24-hour live data centres to help manage demand, the strengthening of same day emergency care and offering more falls services for older people, as part of actions set out to prepare for this winter. Why is the NHS under increased pressure in the winter? Cold weather: Can worsen or cause health conditions, such as asthma Seasonal illnesses: Like flu and norovirus Increased demand: On acute hospital services and primary care Challenges discharging patients How are CHEC helping with the increase in demand? CHEC is one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare. For more than a decade, CHEC has been working in partnership with the NHS to increase patient choice and provide access to timely care and treatment locally. Through our 25+ community hospitals nationwide, CHEC makes specialist eyecare and gastroenterology services more readily accessible in local communities by offering patients greater flexibility and reduced waiting times. By offering these NHS services at our community hospitals we can assist with the backlog of patients, with 100% of patients choosing a CHEC hospital being seen within four weeks. With 1000s of specialists working and referring to CHEC, we are at the forefront of healthcare delivery in England. We work hard to build partnership with the local hospitals, commissioners, GPs, and optometrists to provide a patient-focused service, with many ‘one-stop’ services convenient to patients, closer to home. Find your local CHEC Hospital How to stay healthy this winter Tips to Stay Healthy Flu vaccine, to help protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. Vitamins and Probiotics Stay hydrated Healthy diet Avoid people who may be ill Practice good hand hygiene Who Should Have The Flu Vaccine The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you: are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025) have certain long-term health conditions are pregnant live in a care home are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance live with someone who has a weakened immune system Book a flu vaccination appointment at a pharmacy online or in the NHS App (if you are aged 18 or over) Who Should Have the Covid Vaccine? Covid vaccine, helps protect against COVID-19, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It is offered on the NHS to people at increased risk of getting seriously ill. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can: Help reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms Help you recover more quickly if you catch it Help reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from it Protect against different variants of the virus If you are eligible for the winter COVID-19 vaccine, you can: Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App – you need to book your vaccination before 20 December 2024 Go to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site What Should You Do If You’re Unwell? What should you do if you are feeling unwell this winter? Speak to a Pharmacist Visit your GP Call 111 In the case of an emergency, visit your local A&E?