People in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being encouraged to ‘Get in the know’ about the right services to use for their healthcare needs, as part of a new local NHS campaign.

The campaign aims to support local people to get the right care as quickly as possible, by raising awareness of the services to use when they are unwell or injured through a new and informative website.

When people need medical assistance, particularly in an urgent situation, it can be difficult to think clearly about what to do. Understandably in this situation people will head for the emergency department, which may not be the best place for them to get the treatment they need.

The Get in the Know campaign encourages people to familiarise themselves and be prepared should they find themselves needing health care, including mental health support. Not only will this help residents to get the right care, it also helps to ease pressure on the NHS over winter.

For example, if you have an urgent care need which isn’t immediately life threatening then you should contact NHS 111 or the Mental Health central access point (if it is a mental health need), rather than going straight to A&E.

If you are generally in good health, you can treat many minor illnesses and injuries yourself, without needing an NHS appointment. If you do feel you need some extra guidance, you can use the NHS app or website, NHS 111 Online or your local pharmacy. If you can’t treat the illness yourself or it isn’t getting any better, use your GP practice.

Check out some self-care tips from our staff:

A Get in the Know website to provide local health and care information in one place has been set up and everyone living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is being encouraged to take a look at services and support available – from accessing urgent care support, mental health services to support for cost of living and keeping warm.  The site will signpost you to support from local partners and healthcare providers, including Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Over several weeks various themes under the ‘Get in the Know’ series will be highlighted to raise awareness of the support available and action you can take.  The themes will cover your GP practice, treating minor ailments and what to do if you need urgent help.

People can visit www.getintheknow.co.uk online and follow the campaign on social media using #GetInTheKnow.