New campaign launches to support people in Rutland with minor ailments
Initially the ‘You and Your GP Practice ’campaign will focus on self-care
A new campaign is supporting people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to look after minor ailments themselves.
‘You and Your GP Practice’ has been put together by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups.
The aim is to help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible.
Initially the campaign will focus on self-care and features a series of seven animations advising people how to look after certain minor ailments and when to seek medical advice.
A survey of local patients carried out by the CCGs earlier this year, showed that patients would like more support in being able to look after their own health.
Only half of respondents across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland felt they had the confidence to self-care, while 32 per cent said they had less self-care information than they need.
Dr Nil Sanganee, a GP in Ashby said:
"If people are generally in good health, there is no reason why they can’t look after minor illnesses themselves.
"In most cases the illness will get better by itself and so an appointment with their GP practice isn’t usually required.
"This campaign has been developed to build patients’ knowledge and confidence to look after minor illnesses themselves."
Dr Sulaxni Nainani, a GP in Leicester added:
"If people have any long term conditions we would generally advise them to still contact their GP practice for advice if they develop a minor illness.
"This doesn’t need to be with a GP.
"There are a wide range of health professionals in practices nowadays such as advanced nurse practitioners, physician associates or clinical pharmacists, who are well qualified to advise patients and are often specialists in managing long term conditions.
"Your practice will be able to advise who will be best to see."