People in Lanarkshire are being egged on to stay healthy this Easter.

The national Be Health-Wise This Easter campaign is encouraging people to be prepared so that ill-health doesn’t spoil their holiday.

“By re-stocking your medicine cabinet, knowing when your GP surgery or pharmacist is open and planning ahead for any necessary repeat prescriptions, you can ensure you make the most of the Easter holiday weekend,” said Dr Chris Mackintosh, medical director for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, which is involved in community and primary care across Lanarkshire.

“Although GP surgeries will be closed at Easter, many of our family doctors will be working throughout this period supporting our out-of-hours service.

“It is accessed by calling NHS24 and is only for people who can’t wait for their own GP surgery to open. By using it appropriately you can ensure that those patients who need the service most can access it quickly and easily over the busy Easter weekend.”

The public is being reminded that there are alternatives to turning to the out-of-hours service or the busy emergency departments (A&E) at hospitals. These include self-care or seeking advice at local pharmacies, which will mostly be open as usual on the 14th and will offer some limited opening on the 17th.

The key steps that Be Health-Wise This Easter recommends are:

Restock your medicine cabinet to be prepared for any self-care you can carrry out –
Common ailments such as colds can often be effectively treated at home with readily available medicine such as pain relief, cough mixture and cold remedies. Parents are reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with child-friendly remedies. Also stock plasters, iodine, antiseptic cream and wipes, gauze and tape for treating minor injuries such as small-scale burns, scratches, knocks and cuts.

Use your local pharmacy –
Your pharmacist can offer advice or help if you need over-the-counter remedies or have run out of any prescribed medication. You can also pick up plasters and antiseptic creams to prepare for any minor accidents.

Make sure you have enough repeat prescription –
If you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you have enough medicine to last over the holiday period. Only order what you need.

Know when your GP surgery will be open –
Your local doctor’s surgery will be closed for four days during the Easter weekend from Good Friday on 14 April to Easter Monday on 17 April.

There is full advice at www.nhsinform.scot/easter and handy “Know Who To Turn To” advice, to ensure you are using the most appropriate service, at www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/Services/Know-Who-To-Turn-To