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Broken bones

Choose the right healthcare service to get the care you need and to enable the NHS to help the greatest number of people.

GREEN Self-care at home

While waiting for broken bones to heal

Follow the advice of your treating team (Urgent Treatment Centre/hospital), as well as your GP Practice.

OR

Ask a pharmacist:

  • about the best painkiller to take
  • plaster cast covers
  • if concerned and think you need to see a GP

While waiting for broken collar bones to heal

Use pillows to keep upright if sleeping is uncomfortable

Use ice packs and painkillers for pain and swelling

Keep arm in a sling and remove for short periods of time when fracture starts to heal

Move elbow, hand and fingers regularly as soon as comfortable to do so

No contact sports for 10- 12 weeks after injury

 

Plaster cast care for arms and legs

Keep arm or leg raised on a soft surface, for as long as possible in the first few days

Do not get plaster cast wet

Keep cast uncovered to avoid sweating

Avoid getting anything under the cast

Do not walk on a cast unless told it is safe to do so and have a plaster shoe

Exercise joints not covered by the cast to improve circulation and to avoid problems with the joint once recovered

Do not alter the length or position of the cast

Do not lift anything heavy or drive until the cast has been removed

Use crutches or a sling as advised

Avoid strenuous activities

 

 

AMBER It is urgent, but not life threatening

You see a vulnerable/non-verbal person neglecting to use, or acting guarded around the contact and use of, a limb

Recovering from a broken bone and:

  • pain worsens
  • high temperature, feeling hot and shivery
  • leg, foot or toes feel numb or burning
  • leg, foot or toes swollen, blue or white
  • plaster cast or boot is broken or cracked, rubbing, too tight or too loose
  • bad smell or discharge from under a plaster cast or boot
  • persistent itching or a burning, soreness sensation under the cast

Recovering from a broken toe and:

  • pain and swelling haven’t eased within three days
  • hurts to walk after six weeks
  • person has diabetes

Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk

OR

Contact the department that put the cast, or a GP Practice, which is less like

RED It is a life-threatening medical emergency

Suspected joint dislocation, break or injury to collarbone, arm, wrist, lower leg, ankle, foot or big toe and:

  • severe pain and affected area cannot be used
  • significant swelling or bruising
  • feels stiff and is difficult to move
  • loss of blood supply to the limb – pulseless, pale, pallor, pins and needles, paralysis of the affected area
  • bone sticking out of the skin
  • break at an odd angle
  • snap or grinding noise as injury happened
  • developing weakness or increased pain in any suspected broken bone area

Go to Emergency Department, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham

OR

Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury is severe or unable to get there independently

Suspected broken neck or back – keep still and avoid all movement

Call 999 for an ambulance immediately

Immediate first aid for broken bones:

  • remove any jewellery
  • avoid moving the injured area, keep it straight and support it underneath
  • do not realign bones out of place
  • cover open wounds with a sterile dressing, clean cloth or clothing – maintain direct pressure on wound if bleeding
  • if person is pale, cold and sweaty (in shock), lie them down, keep them warm and calm until you can get medical help
  • take paracetamol for pain. Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory
  • no food or drink in case surgery is needed

 

Self-care at home

Practising self-care is something we all need to do every day. For ourselves, our families, and for the NHS. It builds confidence for those living with long-term health conditions, encourages people to stay well and healthy, and provides support for those dealing with short-term illnesses and ailments.

  • Eat a balanced diet

Enjoying a balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables and low in saturated fat, salt and sugar will make you feel better and have a positive impact on your health. The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right number of calories for how active you are. Eat or drink too much and you will put on weight because the energy you do not use is stored as fat. Eat or drink too little and you will lose weight.

  • Be active

Being active is great for your physical and mental health. Walk more, use the stairs instead of the lift, do something you enjoy that increases your heart rate.

Adults should be active for at least 150 minutes each week, children aged five-16 years old should be active for at least 60 minutes per day and kids under five need three hours of activity a day.

  • Enjoy a healthier lifestyle

Quit smoking and drink less alcohol.

Portsmouth Wellbeing Service supports Portsmouth residents to quit smoking, achieve a healthy weight through eating well and moving more, and to drink less alcohol.

  • Go outside daily

You should try to get outside into natural daylight as much as possible as vitamin D helps to keep your muscles, bones and teeth healthy, as well as providing stimulation for the brain and making you feel happier. If you cannot get outside, consider taking vitamin D supplements, especially during the winter months.

  • Get your vaccinations

Whether it is your annual flu jab or COVID-19 vaccination or booster, it’s important to boost your immunity, especially in winter. Getting these jabs helps to protect you, but also those around you – particularly those who are most vulnerable.

  • Look out for each other

Self-care is also about checking in on each other and looking out for those around you. Whether it is an elderly relative or neighbour, friend or family member you have not seen for a while, or someone you see every day. Check in on them regularly to make sure they are okay.

  • Have a well-stocked medicine cabinet

Paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin for adults, if not conflicting with prescribed medication, or advised to not take by doctor or pharmacist i.e. ibuprofen for certain asthmatics, aspirin or anti-inflammatories with blood thinners.

Have the equivalent medications for children – usually liquid preparations of paracetamol and ibuprofen (not aspirin if under 16 years old)

Cold and cough medicines, and lozenges for sore throats

Mild laxatives to relieve constipation

Rehydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting

Indigestion remedy

Thermometer to check for fever. In-ear most reliable. Oral, axillary (armpit) or rectal checks are all fine but specify where temperature has been taken from when speaking with healthcare professionals.

Range of plasters, bandages and dressings

Antiseptic wipes to clean cuts before they are dressed

Travel sickness tablets

Visit your pharmacy

Pharmacists can help you and your family with minor health concerns. They can offer expert advice and over-the-counter medication to help treat conditions such as colds, coughs, headaches, aches and pains or an upset stomach.

You can find the opening times of local pharmacies online. If you’re not sure where your local pharmacy is, use the NHS pharmacy finder.

Times are subject to change, and you are advised to contact the pharmacy before attending to ensure they are open and have the medication you need.

Pharmacy First allows people who receive certain benefits to go straight to their pharmacist to receive treatment, for selected minor ailments, without needing to visit their GP to get a prescription.

You might be suitable for electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) if you get regular or repeat medicines that do not change. eRD means your GP can send your regular or repeat prescriptions electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. You can then collect your medication from your pharmacy or ask them to deliver it to your home.

Many over the counter medicines help with minor health concerns and do not require a prescription. The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need, including GP referral.

Contact a GP Practice

Most General Practitioners (GPs) treat common medical conditions and refer patients to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment. They are highly skilled doctors who help patients manage their health and prevent illness. GPs work alongside other healthcare professionals at a GP practice – discover more about the team at your GP practice.

There are 12 GP practices in Portsmouth. You can register with a GP practice, even if you are not currently ill. Each practice has its own website where you can follow the link for new patients or patient registration. Use online or phone consultations, if possible, to save surgery appointments for those who need them.

Out of hours GP support

If you wake up at the weekend or want support on a weekday (overnight between 8pm and 8am) for a chest infection, tonsillitis, or anything else that means you might need to see a GP, please contact NHS 111 on www.nhs.111.uk or by calling 111 from any phone.

Through 111, and with the support of Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance, we provide same-day access to a GP where one of our doctors will call you back and, if you need to be seen, can book you an urgent appointment.

Contact 111

For urgent medical help that is not an emergency, and when you are not sure where to go, call 111 for free from a landline or mobile phone, or visit 111.nhs.uk online.

Trained clinicians, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics, alongside call advisors offer advice and treatment for physical and mental health, without the need for patients to use another service such as a GP or Emergency Department.

If needed, 111 can book patients into urgent treatment centres, emergency dental services, pharmacy, A&E, or another more appropriate local service – as well as send an ambulance should the patient’s condition be serious or life-threatening.

Available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs)

UTCs are GP led, open at least 12 hours a day, every day, and are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend A&E for.

They offer treatment, advice, and information for a range of minor injuries and illnesses including:

  • Minor head and eye wounds
  • Sprains, strains and breaks to arms, lower legs, and feet
  • Minor head injuries with no loss of consciousness or penetrating injuries (If you are on blood thinners and have a head injury, go to Emergency Department)
  • Abscesses
  • Bites
  • New cuts and wounds
  • Minor burns or scalds
  • Emergency contraception

Your nearest Urgent Treatment Centre:

  • St Mary’s Hospital, Milton Road – open every day, 8am-8pm
  • Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Bury Road – open every day, 8am-10pm
  • Petersfield Hospital, Swan Street – open every day, 8am-8pm

UTCs don’t have appointments, they have attendance times. These can be booked by calling 111 or as a referral from a GP. You can also turn up without a pre-booked attendance time, but you may wait longer to be seen.

UTCs aim to ease pressure on hospitals, leaving other parts of the system free to treat the most serious cases.

Visit Emergency Department or call 999

For life-threatening emergencies only such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, stroke or heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped.

Portsmouth’s nearest Emergency Department is at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham.

If you are in a life-threatening situation, call 999 immediately or go straight to the Emergency Department.