TV GP Dr Hilary Jones is calling on people to do one thing to help save lives this winter. The doctor was speaking after warnings the NHS could be facing major issues over the colder months.
One British Medical Association report has predicted more than 7,000 patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments with more than 1,700 fewer fully qualified full-time GPs since 2015.
Now the TV doctor is urging people to adopt a simple habit which he says could help save lives as well as help relieve pressure on healthcare services. With flu, Covid and RSV cases rising as well as the NHS deaing with record-level waiting lists and workforce shortages, he is calling for people to self-diagnose at home if they can.
He said: “By testing at home for conditions like flu, cold, or Covid, we can make informed decisions on when to seek professional care and when to manage symptoms safely from home. This will reduce the pressure on GP practices and emergency services, potentially saving lives by freeing up resources for those who need it most.”
He is also calling for people to test at home for other illnesses aside from flu and Covid to cut inceasing pressure on the stretched health services. If people can identify issues early through home testing, they can ensure they are using NHS services only when absolutely necessary during this critical period.
Dr Hilary advises Brits to be on the lookout for key symptoms this winter, including:
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Persistent cough or shortness of breath
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High temperature or chills
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Unusual fatigue or muscle aches
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Loss of taste or smell
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Sore throat or persistent headache
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Runny nose or nasal congestion
He said: “The findings by the British Medical Association show that we should be doing everything we can to support our beloved NHS. Self-testing is a key part of this – it empowers us to take our health in our hands, and allows us to make informed decisions on when we should lean on health services.
“Beyond the pressures of winter illnesses, we should test for a myriad of health issues. By doing so, we can then reduce the pressure our essential services are facing. Of course, if your symptoms are urgent you should contact the appropriate healthcare authorities e.g., 111 or 999.”
At-home test provider, Newfoundland, is now selling its tests in Sainsbury’s and WHSmith stores across the country, offering tests from Bowel Health and Iron Deficiency to Prostate Health and Vitamin D Deficiency. The retailers join Newfoundland’s growing list of stockists, which sees at-home tests available at Tesco, Superdrug and Boots nationwide.