MONDAY, 1 DECEMBER, 2025

Photograph attached: l-r Elaine Banks, Tayside Contracts health & safety advisor,

Dr Andrew Kinnon, Emergency Medicine consultant, Dr Daniel Chandler, consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dougie McKay, Tayside Contracts managing director, Barry Brown, Tayside Contracts charge hand road worker, and Dale McDonald, Tayside Contracts road worker, launch the Keep Well in Winter campaign at Tayside Contracts

Follow Smarty’s advice and make sure you ‘Keep Well in Winter’

NHS Tayside has launched its annual campaign to help the public keep well over the winter months.

The Keep Well in Winter campaign features Tayside’s winter health and wellbeing guru, Smarty the penguin, who will be sharing helpful tips on looking after yourself and your family this winter. This year, NHS Tayside has teamed up with Tayside Contracts to promote staying safe throughout the colder season.

Smarty has a dedicated website www.keepwellinwinter.scot.nhs.uk which is a one-stop-shop for information about how to look after common winter illnesses at home, where to get the right care in the right place for different health issues, GP and pharmacy opening times over the festive holidays and tips on staying safe during cold and icy weather. Smarty’s Keep Well in Winter health messages will also be shared on NHS Tayside’s social media sites.

Emergency Medicine consultant Dr Andrew Kinnon, who is clinical service director for winter planning, said, “We have very detailed plans to help us manage our services during times of additional pressure, but we also need the public to play their part by making sure they are prepared for winter too.

“There is always a big increase in seasonal illnesses such as flu, norovirus, RSV and nasty coughs and colds throughout the winter months but you can help to reduce the spread with good hand hygiene and by staying at home when you have symptoms. It’s usually best to manage these illnesses yourself without the need to see a doctor so make sure your medicine cabinet is well stocked with over-the-counter medicines and check out our Keep Well in Winter website for advice on how to look after yourself at home.

“NHS Inform and the NHS 24 app are great sources of help with handy symptom checkers, details of your nearest services and advice about medications. Your local pharmacy can also help with a range of minor illnesses.

“In addition to winter viruses, we always see a rise in injuries from slips and falls during icy weather and GP practices are closed for four days at Christmas and four days at New Year this year. All of this means that winter is a very busy time for the NHS, from our Emergency Departments and hospital services to out-of-hours, primary care and community teams, so it’s really important that people know where to go for advice and treatment for different health issues.

“Your local pharmacy or GP surgery is still your first port of call for general ailments which are not urgent. At weekends and over the festive holidays, please wait until your GP surgery reopens, contact a local community pharmacy or visit www.nhsinform.scot for self-care advice.

“If you think you need A&E, but it’s not life-threatening, please call NHS 24 on 111, day or night. If it is an emergency, you should call 999 or go to the Emergency Department.”

Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr Daniel Chandler added, “One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family this winter is to get vaccinated against flu and COVID.

“This is the most effective way to help prevent serious illness – and to help support the NHS over the winter months – so I would encourage everyone who is eligible to come along and get vaccinated. You can check your eligibility on NHS Inform. We have appointments available so make sure to get protected before the festive season.”

Managing director of Tayside Contracts Dougie McKay said, “Tayside Contracts, in partnership with Dundee City, Angus and Perth & Kinross Councils, is committed to keeping Tayside’s roads and footways as safe as possible throughout the winter season. While our teams work tirelessly to treat routes across the region, it is not possible to clear every road and footpath immediately. Our priority is to focus first on key strategic routes to maintain essential connectivity before progressing to lower-priority areas.

“During periods of snow and ice, we encourage the public to make essential journeys only and to follow travel advice issued via radio, television and official channels. If travel is unavoidable, please dress warmly, plan ahead and ensure you are fully prepared for winter conditions.

“Community support also plays a vital role during severe weather. Many people feel more vulnerable at this time of year and may benefit from assistance from neighbours. Simple actions such as keeping contact numbers for family or friends who may need help, offering support with essential shopping or clearing snow and ice from your own pathway can make a significant difference.

“By working together, we can help keep our communities safe and resilient throughout the winter months.”

You can find out more about booking appointments or attending drop-in sessions on our dedicated website www.vaccinationtayside.scot.nhs.uk

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138