Self care

Did you know that around 80% of all healthcare in the UK is actually self-care? Most people feel confident looking after everyday minor illnesses like coughs and colds themselves, especially if they can recognise the symptoms and have successfully treated them before with over the counter (OTC) medicines.

Despite this, there are still 57 million visits to GPs each year for minor ailments. This costs the NHS around £2 billion and takes up, on average, an hour of every GP’s day. In Surrey Heartlands in 2024-25, about £4 million was spent on prescribing medicines that could be bought over the counter.

These prescriptions are often for conditions that:

• Are self-limiting, meaning they’ll get better on their own without treatment.
• Can be managed through self-care, so most people don’t need to see a GP and can buy OTC products to help themselves.

Self care is often the best way to treat minor illnesses and injuries. A large range of common illnesses (such as colds, sore throat, coughs, sinusitis or earache) and injuries (such as blisters, minor cuts, grazes) can be treated at home simply with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest.

The best thing to do is:

• rest
• drink plenty of fluids
• have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up
• talk to your pharmacist for advice on getting any pain relief you need such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Most people are very capable of looking after themselves, and most of the time self-treating is okay when it’s safe and you know where and when to seek further help if needed.

If you are unwell, remember to make the most of the range of NHS services available to you and choose the right health service for your health needs, check out the NHS service finder.

Remember:

• Accident and Emergency (A&E) provides vital care for life threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. A&E is not an alternative to a GP appointment.
• Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent care centres or minor injuries units.
• If your GP is closed you can go to www.111.nhs.uk or call 111, which will direct you to the best local service for treatment.
• NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and could save you a lengthy wait at A&E.

Information can be found on NHS website about how everyone can use self-care to improve their health and wellbeing. Fact sheets on self-care can also be found on the Self Care Forum website.