Scottish health board creates a digital platform to ensure local residents can access information on the availability of primary care services and advice on weather and the cost of living

A new online hub has been launched to help Scottish NHS patients access healthcare services over the winter.

Launched by NHS Lanarkshire, the Winter Health Hub will include a guide to the support available over the festive period. From a central portal, users can access information including pharmacy and GP opening times, and details of mental health support and other services available across the region. The site will also offer advice on issues related to the weather and the cost of living.

John Keaney, acute medical director for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “As we enter winter and approach the festive period, it is important that everyone is familiar with the wide range of NHS services that are available to them. If you are unwell, you can access healthcare advice in many ways. It’s important to go for the right care in the right place whether that be seeking advice on NHS Inform, by contacting your pharmacist or seeking help out of hours via NHS 24.”

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NHS Lanarkshire employs about 12,000 staff providing care to more than 650,000 people in the area between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and including the towns of Airdrie, Motherwell, and Hamilton.

Lauren Gibson, lead pharmacist for NHS Lanarkshire’s community pharmacy services, said: “The winter hub outlines who you can reach out to for illnesses and ailments. Your local pharmacy can treat a variety of minor common conditions without a prescription through its Pharmacy First Service, and its Pharmacy First Plus Service. Minor conditions pharmacies can help with include coughs and colds, sore throats, constipation, indigestion, urine infections, minor skin infections, minor eye infections, emergency hormonal contraception and access to urgent supplies of medication you take regularly that you may have run short of. Please speak to your pharmacist.”