Self Care
In Somerset we are working to ensure patients feel more empowered and informed to manage their own health. On this page you will find information and resources to support self-care.
Prescribing
Around 80% of all care in the UK is self care. The majority of people feel comfortable managing everyday minor ailments like coughs and colds themselves; particularly when they feel confident in recognising the symptoms and have successfully treated using an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine before.
Despite people’s willingness to initially self-treat, there are still 57 million GP consultations a year for minor ailments at a total cost to the NHS of £2 billion, which takes up, on average, an hour a day for every GP.
In the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines, which could otherwise be purchased OTC from a pharmacy and/or other outlets such as petrol stations or supermarkets.
These prescriptions include items for a condition:
- That is considered to be self-limiting and so does not need treatment as it will heal or be cured of its own accord;
- Which lends itself to self-care i.e. the person suffering does not normally need to seek medical advice and can manage the condition by purchasing OTC items directly.
Self-Care Week 2025
Self Care Week (17th to 23rd November) is an annual, well established national awareness week, organised by the Self Care Forum, that focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations.
The theme for 2025 is “Mind & Body” and organisations are encouraged to use Self-Care Week as a hook to help people practise self-care for a healthier, happier life.
We encourage you to promote Self Care Week using the Self Care Forum Resources where you can find ideas for PCNs, surgeries, pharmacies and other useful resources.
Patient Information and Leaflets
The Self Care Forum have produced some useful patient fact sheets relating to a number of conditions.
The fact sheets aim to help clinicians and service-users discuss issues around self care within the practice/pharmacy setting and especially how to handle the symptoms in the future. They provide patients with information on:
- Useful facts
- What people can expect to happen (the natural history)
- What people can do to help themselves – now and in the future
- When to seek medical help (the ‘red flags’)
- Where to find out more
If you know what's causing anxiety, fear or panic, it might be easier to find ways to manage it.
Information below can be found on how to manage anxiety, fear, phobia and panic:
The Caring for Babies and Children with Cough website provides useful information for parents and carers of children and includes easy links to the NHS.uk web content for common respiratory infections
Caring for Children with Cough Leaflet
See our Infection Management page
Research has shown that online support improved eczema symptoms in children and young people. EczemaCareOnline provides an online toolkit with various useful resources including videos to help manage eczema and is free to use without registration. One version of the website is aimed at parents and carers of children with eczema; another for young people starting to self-manage their eczema.
See our Infection Management page for Somerset Infection Management Guidance. On this page you will also find a number of useful prescriber and patient resources including the 'Treating your Infection' (TARGET) leaflets with instructions for sending these via accuRx.
Prescriber Resources
Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care: new digital explainer on Pharmacy First
General practice teams can now watch an animation developed by Community Pharmacy England explaining the Pharmacy First service, which allows general practice teams to refer patients to pharmacies for minor illness consultations. Pharmacists can now supply prescription-only medicines, if clinically appropriate, for: sinusitis, sore throat, ear infection, insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and UTIs in women (age restrictions apply).
See our Infection Management page for Somerset Infection Management Guidance. On this page you will also find a number of useful prescriber and patient resources including the 'Treating your Infection' (TARGET) leaflets with instructions for sending these via accuRx.
The Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Podcast by NHS Somerset CCG’s Dr. Andrew Tresidder and Dr. Peter Bagshaw with special expert guests provides free mental and emotional wellbeing support.
The Somerset Emotional Wellbeing Staff Hub is a dedicated online resource for all health and care workers and volunteers in Somerset.
Schools and Early Years Settings
Non-prescription (OTC) medication does not need a GP signature/authorisation in order for the school/nursery/childminder to give it
See Somerset LMC: Prescribing - Nurseries, schools and OTC Medications for more information
