With temperatures set to plummet this week, it’s an ideal time for residents of all ages across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West to prepare for what the weather may bring with a personal winter health and care plan in case you or a loved one become unwell with a cough, cold, or the flu.

From making sure you have simple cough and cold remedies, having a flu jab to protect yourself from the influenza virus, to keeping warm by heating main rooms at home to at least 18°C if you can; these are some simple steps to take now. Personal winter plans should include:

  • Having a free NHS flu vaccination if you are eligible
  • Getting help early before your condition worsens
  • Getting repeat prescriptions in plenty of time before bank holidays
  • Finding out where your local minor injuries unit is located
  • Seeking advice from your local pharmacist
  • Stocking up on over-the-counter cough and cold remedies
  • Stocking up on winter food supplies
  • Getting your boiler serviced
  • Keeping your main room at home heated to 18C
  • Having a list of emergency phone numbers handy by your phone
  • Keeping an eye on elderly or frail friends, neighbours and relatives

If you do fall ill, advice from your local pharmacist or NHS 111 online can help.

Dr Abid Irfan, interim director of primary care at Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said “It is critical that we prevent people’s health suffering from cold temperatures and winter weather by having a personal winter plan to ensure we are prepared when we start to feel unwell with a cough, cold or flu.

"Having a personal winter plan might include making sure you have cold and flu medicines ready at home just in case you start to feel ill and that you have the prescriptions you need especially over Christmas and New Year.

“It is also important to have your flu jab –to keep both you and those around you safe. This is especially important for people over 65, people with long-term health conditions like diabetes and asthma, pregnant women, people living with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and children. Flu can be unpleasant for most of us, but it can be much more severe in some people.”

People with care responsibilities, whether for family members, professionally or as a volunteer, should consult the Cold Weather Plan for England for a range of useful advice www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-cwp-for-england.

Public Health England have published ‘Keep Warm Keep Well advice on staying well in cold weather and covers issues such as financial help, healthy lifestyle, flu jabs and heating.

For more information about the flu vaccination, visit the NHS website.

For more information about how to stay warm and advice to help make your home more energy efficient this winter contact Simple Energy Advice 0800 444202 or https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/