PEOPLE across Gwent are being urged to get ‘winter wise’ to help themselves keep healthy during the coming months, and to help the NHS focus on treating the sickest patients.

Already busy hospitals traditionally get even busier during the winter, but Aneurin Bevan Health Board chiefs are hoping that a new campaign will encourage people to seek the treatment most appropriate to their condition, and to protect themselves against the seasonal rise in illness. The board’s Be Winter Wise campaign – backed by a colourful logo featuring Will the Winter Wise Owl – aims to provide a range of information and advice to help people look after their health during winter, and to choose services which best meet their needs.

“Be Winter Wise aims to to raise awareness of the importance of people of all ages staying well during the winter months,” said Judith Paget, chief operating officer at Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

“We are all aware of the additional pressures on our services during the winter period, and this campaign is about asking the public to help themselves and us by thinking carefully about which service is the most appropriate for their care."

“Be Winter Wise is such a simple but important message and it’s about taking sensible precautions to stay well and choosing the right care for you and your family.” The campaign is also being backed by Newport Gwent Dragons. Hooker Rhys Thomas was on hand to help at the launch.

“It’s hugely important that people are aware of this, and give themselves a quick health check before deciding which part of the NHS to use,” he said.

“If we all take small and simple measures to help ourselves, we will also help the NHS to cope better.”

Be Winter Wise is fronted by three key messages – beat flu before it beats you; keep warm, keep well, keep safe; make sure you choose well so that you can get the right care at the right time.

Everyone eligible for an NHS flu jab is being urged to have one, as a means of helping prevent the spread of a virus that can cause significant ill health and disruption.

l Be Winter Wise information and advice leaflets will be available at hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries, and can also be found on the health board website at www.aneurinbevanhb.wales.nhs.uk

The campaign also links with the aims of the Wales-wide Choose Well campaign, at www.choosewellwales.org.uk