Self-care

For small cuts, burns, fever, or colds, simple remedies can help you feel better. Rest, drink plenty of water, and use over-the-counter medicine when needed.

Use the shopping list below to help you get everything you need. If you’re unsure, a pharmacist can offer advice.

• Hand sanitiser
• Thermometer
• Painkillers (including infant paracetamol for children)
• Cough medicine
• Throat lozenges
• Diarrhoea relief
• Antiseptic wipes or cream
• Allergy medicine (antihistamines)
• Plasters
• Tweezers and scissors
• Bandages
• Disposable gloves
• Alcohol-free cleansing wipes

NHS 111

NHS 111 is here 24/7 for guidance. Visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111 to find out which service is best for you.

NHS App

Download the NHS App to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions, check your health record, and get health advice.

Your local pharmacist can help with things like colds, tummy troubles, rashes and pains. They can also suggest over-the-counter medications, and provide seasonal health tips. No appointment needed – just walk in!

Find your nearest pharmacy.

For non-urgent health concerns, your GP is the best place to start. They know your health history and can provide personalised care. GP practices can often offer advice over the phone or via online appointments.

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. It’s free to register. You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.

Find a GP practice.

If you are registered with a Wakefield District GP practice and feel unwell when they are closed, you can get help from GP Care Wakefield through their evening and weekend clinics.

GP Care Wakefield can also help you if you struggle to make routine daytime appointments with your practice nurse.

How to book a GP Care Wakefield appointment

To book a routine daytime appointment with GP Care Wakefield, please contact your GP practice’s reception team.

If you are unwell when your practice is closed, call your usual GP practice number and you will automatically be put through to GP Care Wakefield.

Find out more about GP Care Wakefield.

Need care quickly but it’s not an emergency? Visit the King Street Walk-in Centre. No appointment needed and open seven days a week, 365 days a year, between the hours of 10am and 10pm.

The walk in service is open for patients (except children under 6 months and pregnancy related issues) who need same-day care and cannot wait to see their own GP. The service is operated by a dedicated team of experienced clinicians who can assess, diagnose and treat a range of minor illnesses and minor injuries that do not need an x-ray, including:

• ear, nose and throat problems
• sprains and strains
• wound infections
• minor burns and scalds
• minor head injuries
• skin conditions
• minor respiratory conditions
• mild abdominal pain or discomfort
• insect and animal bites and stings
• minor eye problems
• minor injuries to the back, shoulder and chest
• urgent wound dressings
• emergency contraception

Pontefract Urgent Treatment Centre can  provide medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. They can diagnose and deal with many of the common problems people go to A&E for.

They can help with things like:

• sprains and strains
• suspected broken bones
• injuries, cuts and bruises
• stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea
• skin infections and rashes
• high temperature in children and adults
• mental health concerns

If you need a prescription one can be organised for you. Emergency contraception is also available.

An accident and emergency (A&E) department deals with life-threatening emergencies and serious accidents, such as: loss of consciousness, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions, severe burns or scalds and strokes.

Not all hospitals have an A&E department. Find your nearest A&E department.

Low risk: self-care advice

If your child does not have any medium risk or high risk symptoms but you would like some further information about how to care for them at home, please visit the healthier together website: wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk

Advice is also available from your local pharmacist. However, if you feel that your child may be seriously ill, or if something that concerns you is not on these lists, contact your GP or 111 for advice.

Medium risk: ask for advice

Temperature

• Raised temperature (more than 37.5 degrees celsius) for five days or more
• Shivering or shaking

Breathing

• Nostrils flaring (change size with each breath)
• Breathing faster than normal
• Breathing that’s unusually noisy or sounds ‘crackly’
• Cough that sounds like a seal barking

Skin, lips and tongue

• Unusually pale skin
• Dry mouth, lips and/or tongue
• Rash that fades when pressed firmly (use a clear glass)

Eating and drinking

• Baby under one year who is not feeding (or taking less than half of their usual amount of milk)
• Feeding or eating much less than normal
• Has vomited (been sick) more than twice in the last 24 hours
• Under one year old with vomiting and/or diarrhoea

Toilet/nappies

• Under one year old with more than five watery poos (diarrhoea) in the last 24 hours
• Only one wee or wet nappy in eight hours

Activity and body

• Less interested than usual in playing or ‘not quite right’
• Difficult to wake up or unusually sleepy
• Swelling of a limb or joint
• Not using/putting weight on an arm, leg, hand or foot

Contact GP practice, walk-in centre, or 111.

High risk: take action

Temperature

• Temperature over 38 degrees celsius in babies under three months
• Temperature over 39 degrees celsius in babies aged three to six months
• Any high temperature in a child who cannot be encouraged to show interest
  in anything
• Low temperature (below 36 degrees celsius, check three times in a 10 minute period)

Breathing

• Finding it much harder to breathe than normal – looks like they are working hard
• Making ‘grunting’ noises with every breath (in newborns this may sound like a lamb bleating)
• Very fast breathing (more than one breath each second in babies under one year)
• Can’t say more than a few words at once (for older children who normally talk)
• Breathing that obviously ‘pauses’

Skin, lips and tongue

• Skin is blue, mottled (purplish, red) or very pale
• Lips or tongue are blush
• Eyes look ‘sunken’
• Hands and feet are unusually cold to touch
• Rash that does not fade when pressed firmly (use a clear glass)

Eating and drinking

• Baby under one month old with no interest in feeding
• Not drinking for more than eight hours (when awake)
• Extremely thirsty or unable to keep fluids down
• Persistently vomiting for more than 24 hours
• Bloody, black or brown vomit/sick

Toilet/nappies

• Not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours

Activity and body

• Soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging
• Child is floppy
• Not responding to family or carers or very irritable
• Weak, ‘high pitched’ or continuous crying in a younger child
• Hard to wake up, won’t stay awake or doesn’t seem to recognise you
• Stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
• Older children who are confused
• The child has a seizure (a fit)

Action: phone 999 or take them to an Emergency Department (A&E):

• Pinderfields Emergency Department (Wakefield) – open 24/7. If your child needs admitting, this will be to the children’s ward at Pinderfields which has specialist children’s care 24/7.
• Dewsbury Emergency Department – open 24/7. There is dedicated children’s care on-site 10am to 10pm.
• If another Emergency Department which sees children is closer to your home, you should attend this hospital.

Check out these great local services – they don’t offer health care but still good to know. 

Welcome Spaces

Welcome Spaces are open to you as a free warm, safe place where you can enjoy a hot drink and friendly company. Everyone has a right to be warm, so expect a warm welcome when you visit.

Find a Welcome Space near you.

Family Hubs

Raising a family can have its difficulties and challenges, but just know that when you need support, there are people and places on hand who can talk to you to find the help you need.

Family Hubs are there for you to access early help, meet other local families, take part in activities, and join helpful groups.

Find your local Family Hub.