Northern Ireland flu patients urged to visit pharmacy instead of ED

By Adam Evans

As Northern Ireland's health service struggles under the extreme pressure - people with flu are being asked to stay away from our Emergency Departments.

We're told Pharmacists should be our first port of call if we're feeling unwell.

Belfast based Community Pharmacist, Dr Terry Maguire told Q Radio there's no "magic cure" for flu. 

"They feel dreadful, they've got cough (...) but in essence this a very common condition, it's something that pharmacists can provide treatment for and very often that reassurance is enough".

His advice was to people feeling rough was "go to bed for four or five days, that's really what you need. The vast majority of people will find over that period of time they'll be well again and there will be no consequences from it".

We're told if necessary Pharmacists are able to refer patients to their GP or the local Emergency Department.

People suffering from the flu are likely to face lengthy waits at EDs as higher priority patients will be processed and seen first.