Most minor illnesses will get better without the need to visit a doctor and can be treated at home.
A pharmacist can give you advice on treating your condition. The NHS England website has a health A-Z, which is a complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.
You can help ease the pressure on local health services by making sure your medicine cabinet is fully stocked with the basic essentials, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, cold remedies, indigestion treatment and antihistamine, and by ordering repeat prescriptions in good time so that you don't run out.
While it’s important to have medicine at home, stockpiling medicine, asking for more than you need on a prescription, or routinely picking up repeat prescriptions without checking, costs the NHS money and deprives others from using those medicines.
Learn more about medicines waste on our website.
Download the NHS App to take control of your health and stay well.
You can order repeat prescriptions on the app and nominate a pharmacy, saving you time and putting you in control of your health needs.
The app is available to download on smartphones or tablets via the Google play or Apple App store.