Important summer health advice from your local NHS

With the peak summer holiday season almost upon us, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex is launching a campaign to remind people how to stay safe in the sun and heat and how to best access healthcare if they need it.

Advice has been issued to accommodation providers and businesses in the tourism and leisure industry via Visit Suffolk and Visit Essex; information has been sent to VCSE partners to distribute to their audiences and a four-week digital marketing campaign has begun with a video highlighting top tips for staying well and accessing treatment. All these link to a new summer page on NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board’s (SNEEICB) wellbeing website: www.sneewellbeing.org.uk/summer.

As the UK is expected to experience another very hot summer this year, it’s essential everyone drinks plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to confusion and loss of balance and it’s the reason many people fall over and injure themselves. When drinking alcohol, it’s important to swap out a few of those drinks with something that’s alcohol free. Dehydration and excessive alcohol consumption are a mix that often mean people need medical attention.

Children can easily dehydrate too, especially if they’re running around a lot. Ensuring they have fluids in the form of a good supply of water, watered down fruit juice and ice lollies will help to keep them safe.

Skin can burn even on cloudy days, so it’s essential to apply sun cream with an SPF of at least 30, regularly throughout the day. People should try to keep out of the sun between 11am-3pm, which is the hottest part of the day and when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest.

Sometimes things don’t always go as planned so it’s good to know that community pharmacists can treat many common summer ailments such as sunburn, hay fever, insect bites and stings, cuts and grazes and stomach upsets. No appointment is needed and many pharmacies are open for business in the evenings and at weekends. You can find your nearest pharmacy here:  https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.

Anyone feeling physically unwell and unsure what to do about it, should visit NHS 111 online for the quickest response. Those without internet access should call NHS 111 instead. Not using NHS 111 first, may mean waiting longer for treatment.

Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis should call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. This service is available at any time of the day or night.

NHS111 can also help with emergency prescriptions if someone runs out of their usual medication and needs an urgent supply. Go online at Emergency prescriptions – NHS 111 or call 111. 

999 and A&E are emergency services and should only be used when someone has a serious or life-threatening illness or injury. This allows medics to focus on people who really need emergency care.

It’s also vital to supervise children and weak swimmers at all times when they’re in swimming pools, rivers, ponds and in the sea. The currents around the north east Essex and east Suffolk coastline are strong and even good swimmers can get into difficulty. The Coastguard can be summoned via a 999 call if anyone does get into trouble in the sea.

Lisa Nobes, Director of Nursing, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex, said: “The sun and heat may tempt us outside to enjoy it, but it can present a real danger to our health if we don’t take care.

“I would remind everyone not to overdo it in hot weather and risk having to miss some of the fun if they fall ill.

“Use the right sun cream for your skin, wear a sun hat, seek out some shade, drink plenty of water or soft drinks and look out for older people and little ones – they’re both particularly vulnerable in high temperatures.”

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) runs Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals. Dr Giles Thorpe, Chief Nurse, ESNEFT, said: “Small steps we can all take like staying safe in the sun and knowing where to get treatment and care, will make a very big difference to the NHS this summer.”

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) runs West Suffolk Hospital. Dan Spooner, Deputy Chief Nurse, WSFT, said: “If you or your loved ones are feeling unwell and the condition isn’t life threatening, we urge you to telephone 111 in the first instance. If you need mental health crisis support, selecting the 111 mental health option when you call, will put you through to a dedicated helpline, 24-hours a day.

“We also ask patients to consider options such as contacting their GP or visiting a pharmacist. Of course, in an emergency, our expert teams are always here for you.

“Please enjoy the summer months but keep you and yours as safe as you can by drinking plenty of fluids and seeking shade when the sun is at its hottest between the hours of 11am and 3pm.”