The NHS in Birmingham & Solihull is encouraging members of the public to choose their health services wisely over the Christmas and New Year period.

There are lots of services available to help with a variety of illnesses and injuries including pharmacies, GP practices, Out-of-Hours services, NHS Direct and walk-in centres.

With the many services that are available, it can be confusing to decide where the best place is to be treated.  Below are some examples of conditions that you might experience at Christmas and where to go for advice and treatment.

1. Cold & flu: Self care at home.  If you're feeling a little run down after too many late nights, you may be more susceptible to a cold. Take pain-relieving paracetamol, stay well hydrated and rest.

2. An itchy rash on your skin: Pharmacy.  Allergic reaction to that new aftershave you got for Christmas?  Pharmacists will be able to assess a rash and provide you with medication to help alleviate your symptoms.  To find your nearest pharmacist visit www.nhs.uk or text Pharmacy to 64746 for free.

3. Stomach ache: GP.  Over-indulgence and eating lots of rich food over the festive period may lead to indigestion.  Your pharmacist will be able to provide indigestion remedies, but if your stomach ache persists, your GP will be able to advise you of the best course of investigation and treatment.

4. A cut to your finger: Walk-in centre.  Be extra careful using a very sharp knife to carve your Christmas turkey, but if you do cut yourself and it is fairly deep and bleeding, visit your walk-in centre or minor injuries unit where they will be able to advise and treat you if necessary.  To find your nearest walk-in centre text 'Walk' to 64746 for free or visit www.nhs.uk

5. Sprains & strains: Walk-in centre, self care at home or GP. Rushing around on icy pavements to do your last-minute Christmas shopping can lead to slips and trips.  Take care and wear supportive, flat boots or shoes if you venture out in ice or snow.  If you do fall and sprain your ankle or wrist, you can visit a walk-in centre for assessment, rest at home, or make an appointment to see your GP.

Local GP Dr Nick Harding commented:  "People should make good use of their local pharmacy, many of which will be open over Christmas when other services may be closed.  We're urging the public to choose well this winter, and pharmacies are the best place to get the right advice and treatment for coughs, colds and flu, along with many other illnesses.

"Another useful service to remember is NHS Direct - 0845 46 47, which offers health advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

"We're also reminding people to make sure they have all the medication they need for the Christmas period and have ordered their prescriptions in time to cover the holidays."

Pharmacy Christmas opening hours for the West Midlands are available on the NHS local website at: http://nhslocal.nhs.uk/my-health/christmas-pharmacy-times.

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For more information, contact the Communications Team on 0121 255 0875

Notes to editors

1. For details of Pharmacy opening times, visit: http://nhslocal.nhs.uk/my-health/christmas-pharmacy-times.

1. For details of GP practices and Out of Hours services, visit www.nhs.uk

1. You can find a symptom checker and information about local NHS services at www.nhs.uk

1. NHS Direct is available 24 hours a day at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or on 0845 46 47.

Notes to editors

The Birmingham and Solihull NHS Cluster comprises Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, NHS South Birmingham, NHS Birmingham East and North, and Solihull Primary Care Trust.

The cluster has been entrusted by each of the four PCTs to lead the local NHS, receiving over £2.3 billion per year to commission and provide health care for 1.3 million people across the city and borough. Our vision is to strengthen commissioning, improve quality and assure safety, tackle health inequalities and make best use of precious NHS resources.

While PCTs will retain their Boards and statutory responsibilities, the cluster has appointed a single Chief Executive - Denise McLellan, who is the accountable officer for all four PCTs. Denise is supported by an Executive Team which comprises four directors, each of whom is leading on a specific areas of business and transformation.

The NHS faces unprecedented challenges in the years ahead. People are living longer, but with greater health and social care needs. People's health prospects and expectations are improving, but through expensive drugs and technology that place an additional burden on our limited resources. Coming together in this way provides the best opportunity to tackle the challenges ahead and create a financially sustainable legacy for our clinical commissioning colleagues to whom we handover the role of commissioning in 2013. We have set out how we will do this in our blueprint for health and care across Birmingham and Solihull - the System Plan.

Until then, we will be uniting with patients, clinicians and a wide range of diverse organisations across the region to help us get the best in care and quality of life for all.