Awareness of self care in Cheshire

Healthwatch Cheshire surveyed 59 people across Cheshire East and Cheshire West to explore awareness and understanding of the NHS "Self Care" message. Awareness was mixed, with an almost even split between people who had heard of self-care and those who had not. Awareness was generally higher in Cheshire West than in Cheshire East, suggesting variation in the reach of local promotion campaigns.

People's understanding of self-care broadly aligned with NHS messaging. Respondents associated it with managing minor ailments at home, seeking advice from pharmacists, looking after physical and mental wellbeing, exercising, eating healthily, and managing long-term conditions. Many viewed self-care as common sense and believed it helped reduce unnecessary GP appointments and pressure on NHS services.

Most respondents felt they practised self-care, commonly by using over-the-counter medicines, consulting pharmacists, monitoring long-term conditions, and only visiting their GP when necessary. Others highlighted preventative behaviours such as exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, social engagement and supporting good mental wellbeing. 

Healthwatch concluded that while many people already engage in self-care behaviours, awareness of the wider "Self Care" campaign remains limited. The report recommended greater promotion of self-care as a clear, consistent message, helping people better understand the full range of actions they can take to manage their own health and wellbeing and make appropriate use of healthcare services.