News

When a friend or relative is diagnosed with dementia, it’s natural not to know what to do. But, helping someone stay connected and socially active can help them stay well for longer. It’s time to rethink dementia.

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that can affect the lungs and airways. In most people, RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms. A vaccine to help protect against RSV is available on the NHS for those most at risk.

Travelling abroad soon and think you need vaccines, a malaria risk assessment or travel advice?

NHS inform has a lot of resources to help with your mental health, whether you’re looking for advice, information, local support, or ideas for improving your wellbeing.

You may be put on a waiting list to see a healthcare specialist or to get health and social care services. The ‘Waiting Well’ website from NHS Inform has information to support your health and wellbeing at this time.

Cases of measles are on the rise. Check you’ve been fully vaccinated against it.

If you are coming to Scotland to study full-time, and you live in Scotland lawfully, you can get healthcare from the NHS from the day you arrive until one month after your course finishes.

NHS Scotland is using a new text message service to ensure our patient waiting lists are up to date and that patients still need their appointments or operations.

NHS Scotland does not recommend choosing to pay to travel abroad for surgery as part of a packaged holiday. This is sometimes called surgical or cosmetic tourism.

Quit Your Way Scotland Quit Your Way Scotland is an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland. You can contact Quit Your Way Scotland for free by: — phoning a Quit Your Way Scotland advisor on 0800 84 84 84— chatting online with a Quit Your Way Scotland advisor Most … Read more

Problems with muscles, bones and joints are known as musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. There’s a lot you can do at home to help your recovery from most injuries or conditions relating to these areas.

Find out how you can improve your mental wellbeing

Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can encourage harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. That means antibiotics may not work when you need them.

Download the free NHS 24 Online app to find your nearest services, to assess your symptoms and to get virtual assistance.

When you understand what’s going on with your health, you can make better decisions around your care and treatment.

If you’ve made your organ and tissue donation decision, tell your family and friends. Because if your loved ones know your decision, it’ll make it easier for them to ensure it is honoured.

Support for Scotland’s Unpaid Carers. A carer is anyone who looks after a friend or family member due to old age, addiction, disability, physical or mental illness

If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or low, or having problems sleeping or dealing with grief – find out how you can improve your mental wellbeing by hearing what others have found helpful.

Help keep us going. Please support health and social care staff.

Abusive behaviour causes mental and physical harm to our staff, leading to time off work and less time with patients.

If you think you require vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional.

Your practice has many expert healthcare professionals and services that can help you, from a GP or nurse to mental health support or a community pharmacist.

No matter which, if any, gender you identify with, it’s important you’re aware of which screening services you’re eligible for.

Bowel screening is offered to people aged 50 to 74 across Scotland to help find bowel cancer early, when it can often be cured.