Health Advice & Information

Is my child too ill for school?

Is my child too ill for school? The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Chris Whitty, and leading health professionals has written to school leaders to offer advice to parents from the NHS making it clear that children can attend school with minor coughs and colds, provided they do not have a fever. Please click on the link below to ask 'Is my child too ill for school?'

Health Advice from the E-School Nurse

Think Pharmacy First

Think Pharmacy First which is available in any pharmacy within the North Cumbria NHS footprint (Allerdale, Copeland, Carlisle and Eden).

This winter, there are a number of factors affecting healthcare, where community pharmacy can support. These include issues in cost-of-living, healthcare capacity and health inequalities. As a result, there is an urgent need to promote use of community pharmacy for minor illness to the wider population, including access to medicines free of charge for vulnerable groups. This has two aims:

To increase use of community pharmacies for minor ailments
To increase uptake of Think Pharmacy First for vulnerable people

As you are aware, our healthcare services are really busy right now and there can be a wait to be seen. Community pharmacists are highly trained professionals who have the skills to help you manage minor illness. The following information might be helpful for your clientele if they or their family are suffering from a minor illness.

Pharmacies across Cumbria have always been able to offer free advice, when attending the pharmacy also be aware of the THINK PHARMACY FIRST service which is available if you or your child has a minor illness.

This service can offer advice and treatment on a range of minor health problems including:

• Digestive disorders - indigestion, heartburn, constipation and diarrhoea

• Pain and inflammation

• Eye symptoms - conjunctivitis - over 1 years old, hayfever

• Infections - thread worms and our great friend - the head lice

• Coughs, colds, flu and sore throats

• Fever, earache, coughs and colds, nappy rash

• Skin problems - hayfever, acne, eczema, bites and stings.

If you are registered with a GP practice across North Cumbria or the North East, the majority of pharmacies in these areas can offer this service.

Just walk in to get advice and support from our pharmacy teams, and if you do not pay for your prescriptions, the pharmacist will be able to provide you with some medicines for minor illness free of charge.