Keep your medicine cabinet stocked and stay well this winter

With Christmas just a month away, now is the perfect time to review the contents of your medicine cabinet.

A properly stocked medicine cabinet can help you to treat many common illnesses and ailments over the festive period.

Bay Health and Care Partners (BHCP) are urging everyone to make sure these items are on hand and say it will save you the worry if you need them over the coming months.

BHCP includes University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group (MBCCG), Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust; GP Providers Alliance, Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

All of the BHCP members are working together to support people’s health over the winter months.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society recommends you include the following in your medicine cabinet:

• A first-aid kit, including bandages, plasters, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape for dressings and tweezers
• Pain relief such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen for aches, pains and high temperatures
• Oral rehydration salts to replace lost minerals and fluid after a fever or vomiting and diarrhoea
• Anti-diarrhoea tablets to relieve symptoms of diarrhoea, although these will not help with the underlying cause
• Antihistamines which can help with allergies
• Indigestion relief remedies

Ben Fell, Ben Fell, a local Pharmacist for Asda, is encouraging everyone to double check their supplies.

Ben said: “Many of us get a minor illness from time to time over the winter period and you’ll be relieved of suffering if you have a properly stocked medicine cabinet that helps you get back on your feet quickly.

“It is worth checking the medicines you have at home to make sure they are still appropriate and still in date.

“Remember your pharmacist is an expert who can advise you about any medications you have been prescribed which might affect your choice of product. We want you to enjoy this season so pop in to your local pharmacy where we’re always on hand to help. No appointment needed.

“Act now and save yourself that terrible feeling of having to drag yourself to the pharmacy when you feeling really poorly. Always be prepared.”