NHS England is urging people to pick up their prescriptions and stock up their medicine cabinets and first aid kits for the festive season.

With temperatures falling, coughs, colds, aches and pains are on the increase but there are things we can do to prepare.

Good self-care is about staying well, and ensuring that medicine cabinets and first aid kits are well stocked. Prescriptions should also be collected in advance of bank holidays over Christmas and New Year.

Pharmacists are an excellent first port of call for advice. They are trained experts who can advise on minor concerns, such as coughs, colds, tummy troubles, teething, and aches and pains, and you don’t have to book an appointment.

Acting quickly helps ensure that illness is nipped in the bud and could also prevent a trip to see the GP over the busy winter period. A pharmacist will always advise you if they think you need to see a doctor.

By talking to your pharmacist first you can get the advice and medicines you need, to get you on the road to recovery, without having to see a doctor. Plus there’s no need to worry about having private conversations at the counter – many pharmacists offer private consultation rooms.

Dawn Cruickshank, Superintendent Pharmacist, John Low Ltd, Consett, Durham, said: “Do your best to avoid mistletoes or tinselitis this Christmas by being organised and stocking up on your prescriptions and checking your first aid kit.

“It’s important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home so you can deal with minor accidents and injuries.

“Pharmacies are a great source of advice for minor health concerns and most have consultation rooms where you can see a pharmacist in private, if required.”

This year’s NHS England and Public Heath England winter campaign: ‘Help Us Help You’ is urging us all to stay well and choose the right service to get the right help at the right time.

NHS England’s Medical Director for Cumbria and the North East, Professor Chris Gray, said: “Please don’t get sleighed by an illness this festive period.

“Be prepared by stocking up and ordering your prescriptions as soon as you can and please have a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.”

The NHS child health app is free to download and for local pharmacy opening hours, during the Christmas and New Year period, go to www.urgentoremergency.co.uk

Please do: Check up on older neighbours and relatives, and those with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems, to make sure:

• they’re safe and well
• are warm enough, especially at night
• have stocks of food and medicines so they don’t need to go out during very cold weather.

For information on pharmacists open near you, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/north/our-work/pharmacy-information/cumbria-north-east/

For more health advice visit www.nhs.uk