Think you need medical help right now? NHS 111 is available to offer advice on the best course of action to take when you have an urgent but nonlife-threatening health concern.

NHS 111 allows you to have access to advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone and online and, if necessary, they can arrange for you to speak to relevant healthcare professionals, including nurses, emergency dentists, or even GPs.

The advisors can also arrange face-to-face appointments, and if you are assessed as needing an ambulance, one will be sent directly. NHS 111 provides you with a convenient way to get the right help or advice when you need it. Whether over the phone or online, NHS 111 will ensure that you get the right care, from the right person, as quickly as possible. So, if you think you need urgent medical help, call 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk. ‘Help Us Help You’ know what to do

165 new antibiotic resistant infections every day in England Latest data from Public Health England shows there were an estimated 61,000 antibiotic resistant infections in 2018 – that’s 165 a day.

Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. This means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them.

Antibiotics are essential to treat serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. However, they are frequently being used to treat illnesses like coughs, earache and sore throats that can get better by themselves.

The ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ campaign returns to alert the public to the risks of antibiotic resistance, urging them to always take their doctor, nurse or healthcare professional’s advice on antibiotics.

For further information on antibiotic resistance visit nhs.uk/antibiotics.

Remember to ‘think pharmacy first’ if you need advice or treatment for common illnesses like coughs, colds, eye infections and earaches.

As highly trained health care professionals, there’s a lot more that community pharmacists can help you with too.

Sometimes people go to a doctor or even a hospital for things that could be sorted out more conveniently at the pharmacy. You can consult your pharmacist about a wide range of health care issues, not just about medicines.

So, for convenient access to medicines, NHS services, support for healthy living and prompt clinical advice, Ask Your Pharmacist!

Get the right advice from the right people in a place convenient for you!

Pharmacists work with other professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to give you the best possible care as part of the NHS team.

Every pharmacist trains initially for five years in the use of medicines, managing minor illnesses and providing health & wellbeing advice. Pharmacists continue to develop their clinical and professional skills throughout their career.

All pharmacy staff have accredited medicines training.

Your community pharmacy is the right place to go for help with minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, eye infections and earache. The pharmacist can give clinical advice on many other matters too.

Sometimes your local doctors’ surgery will suggest you see your local pharmacist for convenient, professional advice and treatment for minor illnesses. Or your pharmacist may refer you to the GP, if it’s something that can’t be sorted out in the pharmacy or requires further investigation.