1. Skip the 8am scramble and go online instead for any non-urgent health concerns.
- Mornings are frantic enough, whether you’re getting ready for work or doing the school run, so it’s not always practical to call your GP practice at 8am on the dot. Instead, you can use your GP practice’s website anytime during working hours for any non-urgent requests, and you can explain what you need in your own time, describe your symptoms or follow up about something. The online forms are secure, managed by the same team at your GP practice, and you’ll usually hear back from the team within one working day.
2. Don’t sit on symptoms, the earlier you contact the quicker its sorted.
- The quicker you tell your GP practice what’s going on, the faster the team can direct you to the right care, whether that’s a GP, nurse, pharmacist, self-care guidance or referral to a specialist service. So, when you send your symptoms or requests through your GP practice’s website, the team will be in touch within one working day with the advice for your specific need.
3. Use the NHS App to manage your health at home or on the go.
- Most of us have the App on our phones already, but how many are really making the most of it? You can now manage your health wherever you are, whether you’re on your way to work, at the supermarket or while watching TV. Simply tap the App and you can request repeat prescriptions, manage appointments and more.
- When you switch on notifications, you’ll also get reminders about appointments and alerts when test results are ready. It’s ideal for those who already manage their banking and shopping on their phone, so why not their health?
5. Keep your medicines up to date
- Make sure you check you’re up to date with medication, especially if you’re going away for the weekend or are running low. You can use the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions within a few taps and track it just like an online shopping order.