The Self Care Forum is kicking off the start of Self Care Week, 18 to 24 November, with the launch of a new e-learning package.

The e-learning, Successful Self Care Aware Consultations (SCF), is made up of four short modules and can be accessed for free on the NHS's e-LfH hub. 

The course aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to conduct a ‘self care aware consultation’, with a focus on self-treatable conditions. It was commissioned by NHS England to support its guidance on non-prescribing in primary care of items which can be obtained over the counter.

Think Self Care for Life is the strapline for this year’s campaign and community pharmacies are urged to join the 600 plus organisations that participated in national Self Care Week last year, to ensure pharmacy is viewed as the first port of call for self care advice. Resources are available to download from the Self Care Forum website.

Commenting on the campaign, Self Care Forum president Dr Peter Smith, said: “As a GP, I discovered over 30 years ago that people want to look after themselves as well as they can and want to be reassured they are getting it right.

“By including self care messages in as many contacts as possible we can help them achieve this. And, whilst there’s lots of pressure on all our time, this online course can help GPs incorporate self care within the confines of a 10 minute consultation.”