Get ready for winter

With the colder weather on its way, now is the time to take simple steps to look after your health

Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older or have a long-term health condition. Follow our simple guide to preparing for the winter months.

Make the right choices

An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) should only be used for genuine life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped, stroke or major trauma such as a road traffic accident.
Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent treatment centres or minor injuries units.

NHS Urgent Treatment Centres in Runcorn and Widnes are available to anyone who has a minor injury or illness that requires urgent attention, but is not critical or life threatening.
Open 8am to 9pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year including bank holidays they can provide diagnostic services including x-ray. Please arrive before 8pm to allow time to be seen before closing.
The centres in our area also provide arrival time slots for patients who contact NHS 111:

Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre
Nightingale Building
Hospital Way
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 2DA
Tel: 01928 714567

Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre
Health Care Resource Centre
Oaks Place
Caldwell Road
Widnes
WA8 7GD
Tel: 0151 495 5000

Get help early

If you are 65 or over, or in another at-risk group, it’s important to get medical help as soon as you feel unwell. Please don’t wait until your symptoms get worse.
If you are unsure what to do contact 111.nhs.uk online first, or call free from a landline or mobile. They’re open 24/7, 365 days a year.

Get to know your local pharmacist

Pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines to treat a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains to help you recover at home.

Get vaccinated

Dangerous viruses, including COVID-19 and flu, spread quickly when we’re all crowded together inside and it’s easy for us to pass on these viruses without knowing.
Flu can make some people seriously ill, so it’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re advised to. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn before flu starts spreading.
Some people may be eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 booster vaccines. If you are offered both vaccines, it’s safe to have them at the same time. Find out if you’re eligible now at www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

Know the symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 is still circulating, so if you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, please get a PCR test (test that is sent to a lab) to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible.

Stay at home and do not have visitors (self-isolate) until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.