WITH the NHS in Wales gearing up for another busy winter, patients in Gwent are being urged by their health board to Be Winter Wise with the help of a high profile campaign.

ENCOURAGING people to make the best and most appropriate use of the NHS is a year-round business.

With A&E departments and emergency ambulance services under increasing pressure, it is more important than ever for people to think about which part of the NHS is best equipped to deal with their needs, or even if they need to seek its help at all.

But in winter, that pressure grows more acute, with factors such as more illnesses being in circulation, and the colder weather, contributing to demand.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board has this year sought to combine several winter health messages in one campaign.

Be Winter Wise is fronted by Will, the Winter Wise Owl, and the colourful campaign logo will be a common sight in hospitals, clinics, GP practices, and on the board's website and social media outlets during the coming months. At its core are three key messages:

• Beat flu before it beats you, seeking to raise awareness of the importance of older and vulnerable people getting immunised against seasonal flu;

• Keep warm, keep well, keep safe this winter, urging people to think about issues such as what medicines they need and how to keep warm;

• Making sure you Choose Well - thinking carefully about which service is right for you, before seeking medical attention, indeed, thinking about whether you need the help of the NHS at all.

The annual flu immunisation campaign has over many years become a key part of NHS preparations for winter.

The flu threat, in terms of the type of the virus and its potential for harm, changes annually, but even in a 'quiet' year, it contributes to the general surge in illness during the winter.

The annual flu jab is free on the NHS for people aged 65 and over, and for people in 'at risk' groups which include those with a chronic medical condition such as asthma, and people with kidney disease, heart problems, or who are receiving treatment for cancer.

It is also recommended for carers and NHS and social care staff,

The programme has also been extended this year to cover two-three year-olds and Year Seven pupils, with the aim over the next few years of introducing NHS flu protection for all two-16 year-olds.

So far in Gwent, GP figures indicate that 53 per cent of people aged 65 years and over have been vaccinated, along with 36 per cent of six-64 year-olds in 'at risk' groups. The Welsh Government target is 75 per cent coverage.

Almost a third health board staff have been vaccinated so far, through workplace clinics, though others will have had their jab at their GP surgery, as they may be in an ‘at risk‘ category.

Keeping warm, well and safe, covers a multitude of actions that people probably take every day in winter.

But it is also geared toward encouraging people, particularly the elderly, to make preparations in the event of illness, such as: Keeping copies of important information, such as prescribed medication, beside your phone, with the name of your GP and your own emergency family/friend contact number; maintaining a fully charged mobile phone; having a battery operated torch and spare batteries (or a wind-up torch); having a three-day ‘winter store’ including bottled water and food.

Making sure you Choose Well, is about taking the time to work out which NHS service is the most appropriate to meet your needs in the event of injury or illness, or whether you need such a service at all.

This is linked to the Wales-wide Choose Well campaign - www.choosewellwales.org.uk - and aims to help reduce the number of patients who turn up at A&E departments without having any serious ailments.

This issue applies to patients who arrive by ambulance, as well as those to come to A&E under their own steam, though with ambulance attenders, other solutions are being developed, such as paramedics at the scene of an emergency call being able where appropriate to seek an alternative treatment and care path instead of taking the patient to hospital.

This aspect of Be Winter Wise urges people to consider alternatives to A&E, such as a minor injuries unit, their GP, their nearest pharmacy, NHS Direct Wales - 0845 46 47 - or self-care at home with the aid of over-the-counter medicines if required.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board's chief operating officer Judith Paget said Be Winter Wise aims to raise awareness among people of all ages, of the importance of staying well during the winter months.

“We are all aware of the additional pressures on our services during the winter period and this campaign is about asking the public to help themselves and us by thinking carefully about which service is the most appropriate for their care," she said.

“It is a simple but important message about taking sensible precautions to stay well and choosing the right care for you and your family.”

The campaign's key messages are being delivered on a daily basis by staff to patients and the public, and through patient information screens and the health board’s social media channels.

Further information and tips from Be Winter Wise can be found on the campaign pages at www.aneurinbevanhb.wales.nhs.uk