This week it’s self-care week and I’d like to highlight your health expert on the high street – the community pharmacist.

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can give advice and recommend treatments for self-treatable conditions such as coughs, colds, sprains and strains.

Many people still visit their GP for conditions that could be treated at home or with your pharmacists’ advice. Using a less appropriate health service increases the strain on our NHS, so it is important to think about what is the best service for your health needs.

I know sometimes it can be worrying. People often go to the doctor with common ailments because they are unsure how long symptoms last and need reassurance that it isn’t anything more serious.  Instead of waiting for an appointment at your surgery, consider going to your local pharmacist first.

Pharmacists will help you choose the right treatment for your ailment and can explain the normal duration of symptoms. They can also offer you help to stop smoking, manage your weight, as well as providing flu jabs and blood pressure checks. Many pharmacies even have consulting rooms offering privacy.

If you have a cold or flu it is worth remembering that antibiotics won’t help. In fact, taking them can reduce their effectiveness when taken for ailments they can help with.

It might sound like you’ve heard all this advice before but it can really make the difference.

If you’re usually fit and healthy and you get a cold or flu, it’s uncomfortable but you’ll get over it relatively quickly. For an elderly person, or someone with a long-term illness such as a lung condition, getting a cold or the flu can be very serious. We see too many people end up in hospital during these winter months.

So this winter if you have a long term health condition and are worried how common ailments may be affecting you, or just want some advice on managing your medicines, visit your pharmacist first.