Council and health partners backing for Self Care Week

Blackburn with Darwen Council is backing an annual awareness event that promotes the benefit of self-care, taking place from today, Monday November 16.

Self Care Week is about encouraging people to “self-care”, which means looking after their own health and wellbeing and managing minor, short-term conditions at home or by visiting a pharmacy.

The message is all the more important this year with the coronavirus pandemic still in circulation.

The week is being supported by Blackburn with Darwen Local Integrated Care Partnership, which is made up of GP practices, local NHS organisations, the Council and community and voluntary organisations.

The partnership sees the organisations working more closely to deliver health and care services that are delivered in people’s communities and designed around their needs.

During Self Care Week the Council will be working with NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG to signpost people to useful messaging around self-care, various materials to help make the most of the week as well as local services such as re:fresh and the Wellbeing Service and adult learning opportunities.

As part of the week, GPs in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen are also advising people to keep medicine cabinets fully stocked this winter.

With the added burden of coronavirus in circulation, winter could be an exceptionally challenging time for the NHS this year, particularly urgent and emergency care services.

Pharmacists can advise people which medicines to put in their cabinets to help get them and their family through the winter season. Many over-the-counter medicines are available to relieve symptoms of common winter ailments such as colds, sinusitis or earache.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

Self Care Week is all about having a look at the small steps we can all take towards a healthier lifestyle. Whether it’s walking, gardening, a healthier diet or drinking less, small things can make a big difference. And with the NHS under such massive pressure at the moment with the pandemic, it’s useful for us to all know the basics of being able to manage minor, short-term conditions at home or by visiting a pharmacist.

Dr David White, a GP in Burnley and the clinical lead for urgent care at Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said:

It is really important that everybody does all they can to stay safe and well this winter and protect themselves from the flu and other winter viruses. To manage winter illness symptoms at home, you should keep warm, rest, drink plenty of fluids, have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up and use over-the-counter medications to help give relief.

A range of materials are available on our website to help you make the most of Self Care Week.