In this article for "Self Care Week" you will be able to

• Download self care aware fact sheets expertly produced by the Self Care Forum; covering a range of common conditions: from Acne to Venous Disease (looking after your legs) and nutritional fact sheets.
• Watch and read Lymphoedema self care tips and videos republished from the 2021 and 2022 Lymphoedema Awareness Week (produced in proud working partnership with Gaynor Leech founder and expert patient advocate of LWO Community and many expert Lymphoedema healthcare professionals: Christine Talbot, Sue Hansard, Jane Wigg, Dr Rhian Noble-Jones and Catherine Groom.
• Read about the new Self Care online course for managing Lymphoedema with Aideen Schweppe.
• Read Deep Oscillation Testimonials, for a range of conditions from sporting and occupational injuries to Lymphoedema and Lipoedema and pre and post surgery, including feedback from patients using personal units for self care at home and on holiday abroad.
• Look at some quick, self care ideas to remind us of the small things we can do to improve our physical and mental wellbeing.

The organiser of Self Care Week is the Self Care Forum, a charity which aims to empower and encourage everyone to make self care their everyday habit.  And the Self Care Forum knows just how important this message is, particularly when times are as tough as they are right now.

Self Care Week is a perfect time to think about how we live our lives and maybe make some small changes that will improve our health and wellbeing, and our family’s. Those changes could mean looking at what we eat or drink, or how much exercise we do or how much sleep we are getting. They could be about our work-life balance, because staying connected to our friends and family is also vital to our wellbeing, and theirs.

Knowing what to do and where to go for help is an important part of practising self care for life. Remember, it isn’t just the GP practice that can help, pharmacies are also excellent sources of health advice. They are on every High Street and can help with all sorts of ailments. Pharmacists can also signpost you to the right place for additional help or treatment.

Remember, *NHS 111 can also be a good resource for health advice for things that are not life-threatening. And the NHS website has lots of information on what steps to take to look after you and your family. *https://www.nhs.uk/  

The important thing to remember is, practising self care is something we all need to do every day. For ourselves.  For our families.  And for the NHS, to ensure our health service is there when we need it.

Scotland: NHS Direct   Wales:  NHS 111 Wales  Northern Ireland: Phone First