Get ready for summer

NHS Kent and Medway is encouraging parents and carers to know where to go for medical help during the school summer holidays.

The school break can be a busy time for the NHS and it’s important to choose the right service for you and your children if you are ill or injured.

If you or your children are not well, get advice from your pharmacist at the first sign of feeling ill – don’t wait for it to get more serious.

Pharmacists can help with common health conditions such as hayfever, sore throats, colds and insect bites. Use our map to find your nearest pharmacy.

You can visit an urgent treatment centre if you have a suspected broken bone or fracture, a sprain or a strain, minor cut, burn or scald. Find your nearest centre on our website.

If the weather is hot, stay in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30, a hat and light clothes.

Parents can download the NHS toolkit for primary school children to find useful information about NHS services and common childhood health issues.

Dr Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said: “Whether your family has days out planned or you will just be enjoying the good weather in the back garden, it’s important to get the right help fast.

“Knowing the right place to go can help you get the treatment you need faster. Please choose wisely and help us help you.”