Though it may seem a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, this will be the last issue before the festive season. You may also need to plan a little more carefully this year with regards to your health. With Christmas Day falling on Friday and Monday qualifying as a Bank Holiday, doctor's surgeries and most pharmacies will be closed for four consecutive days. To aggravate the situation, it is predicted to be the coldest winter for 50 years with heavy snowfall likely. This may make getting out to the surgery more difficult too. The weather may also impact on deliveries of medicines. To avoid being left without your medicines over this period ensure you order them sufficiently early. Even if you do not take prescription medicines, you may still need to plan ahead. It would be wise to stock up on cough and cold remedies rather than being caught short. Vitamins to boost your immune system can also be useful during such cold periods. Of course, past experience teaches us that it would be wise to stock up on indigestion and over-indulgence remedies even if you have the best of intentions (those best intentions do often seem to fade don't they?) Pop in to see us and I will be happy to advise on the best options. Not only do we have certain stronger medicines which can only be bought from pharmacies, we will also ensure the treatment we recommend suits you and takes into account any other medicines you may take. We will refer you if you need further medical attention. You can see our pharmacist for advice without an appointment. Practical tips to keep well in winter include ensuring your house is kept warm. It is also important to eat well as food gives you energy, which helps to keep you warm. So, try to have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day. If you are in an at-risk group, you should ensure you have a flu jab. If you do need medical help or advice when your surgery and pharmacy are closed phone 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you to the best service for you in your area. I hope you find this useful, and would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Eat, drink and enjoy the season with your loved ones. Taj