Choose Well

Like everywhere else in the UK, NHS Barnsley expects extraordinary pressures and demands on local health services over Bank Holidays and the winter period. The Choose Well guide was established to provide you with information that will tie together all NHS Barnsley services and highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate NHS service if you fall ill during the winter period.

Choose Well can be used when you need help, so that you can judge the best place to go for help and reduce pressures on NHS services.

Using the wrong services not only costs the NHS millions of pounds each year, but also prevents urgent appointments being available to those who need them most.

Choosing Well ensures you receive the best possible treatment, leaving emergency services to those who need them most.

Unwell but unsure

Contact NHS Direct when you are ill or injured and unsure what to do next, or if you have any questions about conditions, treatments or local health services. NHS Direct can help with its 24 hour advice and health information service at any time.To contact NHS Direct call 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (calls to NHS Direct cost a maximum of 5 pence per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and other networks may vary. Your service provider may charge a minimum cost per call. For patients' safety, calls to NHS Direct are recorded).

Runny nose or coughs

Your local Pharmacist (chemist) is a highly trained healthcare professional who can provide expert, confidential advice on common health problems and the best medicines to treat them.

Pharmacists (chemists) can offer advice on medicines and how to take them.

Minor injuries or illnesses

Self-care is the best option for treating very minor illnesses or injuries. A well stocked medicine cabinet will help you treat many everyday illnesses at home.

Vomiting or ear pain

In recent years, many more nurses have been trained to give advice, take tests and diagnose and treat illnesses that used to only be dealt with by doctors. These nurses are very highly skilled health professionals. They are often the best person to see at the practice and you can usually see them quicker than seeing a GP or doctor.

A&E or 999

As the name suggests, you should only go to A&E (Accident and Emergency) or call 999 if immediate emergency care is needed.

A&E departments tell us that around 4 in every 10 people who go to A&E don't need to. This wastes valuable time and resources needed for real emergencies. It is often very obvious if someone is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care. An emergency is 'a critical or life-threatening situation'.