Top Tips for Practices in Supporting Self-Care:
Promoting self‑care is a long‑term project for any practice. This list may appear daunting, but we suggest each practice selects one or two areas to focus on first.
Resources such as the Self‑Care Forum’s evidence‑based fact sheets can support this work throughout the year, especially during Self‑Care Week.
- Recognise that self‑care is one of the few effective strategies for demand management in general practice
Only when all team members see practice leaders — clinical and non‑clinical — valuing and acting on self‑care will they recognise the need to adopt it too. Self‑care initiatives can be part of regular meetings, incorporated into staff training, and discussed at practice away days. It is important for leaders to walk the talk, demonstrating self‑care in their everyday professional lives.
You may find it helpful to use the Self‑Care Forum’s fact sheets as shared reference points for staff.
- Agree the advice all clinicians, healthcare assistants and receptionists will give on common self‑limiting illnesses
Common conditions such as flu, fever, head lice, sore throat, require consistent messaging. Using the Self‑Care Forum’s condition‑specific fact sheets can help ensure everyone gives the same clear, evidence‑based advice. These can also be shared with patients directly.
- Involve local pharmacists and community nurses in giving the same advice and support for self‑care
Safe, high‑quality care depends on good communication with local pharmacies and community teams, so building strong links is recommended as part of the wider primary care team. Once established, they can be involved in agreeing advice for managing common illnesses.
Sharing Self-Care Forum fact sheets across the wider primary care network helps maintain consistency.
- Involve all doctors and nurses in reviewing the practice’s antibiotic‑prescribing policy
Ensure consistency, best practice and fairness, and consider NICE guidance on reducing antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections. If patients perceive inconsistency, they may play prescribers off against each other. A clear, fair policy increases patient confidence in the practice.
Self‑Care Forum fact sheets on coughs, colds and sore throats can support conversations about appropriate antibiotic use.
- Review the practice’s policy on psychologically active drugs and talking therapies
Consistency and fairness apply equally to other medications, such as psychotropics, and to interventions such as talking therapies. Policies should be evidence‑based and applied consistently.
- Use reviews of long‑term conditions to inform and educate patients, carers and families
The average person with diabetes spends around six hours a year face‑to‑face with a health professional. The decisions they make in the remaining 8,754 hours determine the quality and length of their life. Support them to make good choices by:
- explaining the aims of the consultation
- helping them prepare
- exploring their preferences and goals
- involving other key professionals, such as a nurse specialist or social care contact
- Involve your patient participation group (PPG) and other service users
PPGs are a valuable resource for advice, reality checks and support. When discussing self‑care initiatives, ensure the needs of diverse groups within the practice population are considered.
PPGs often welcome ready‑made materials such as SCF fact sheets or Self‑Care Week posters to support local engagement.
- Encourage clinicians to assess a patient’s self‑care capability and identify when they are most receptive
People are more open to self‑care messages at certain times — for example, becoming a first‑time parent or receiving a new diagnosis of a long‑term condition. Introduce self‑care advice at the right moment, in a supportive way, highlighting benefits such as saving time, reducing worry, improving control and enhancing outcomes.
SCF fact sheets can be used as take‑home resources at these key moments.
- Use opportunities to integrate information and advice on self‑care
Health checks, screening appointments and long‑term condition reviews all offer opportunities to reinforce self‑care messages.
Self‑Care Week can act as an annual prompt to refresh materials and re‑energise the practice’s approach.
- Ensure all doctors and nurses are aware of the principles of the self‑care‑aware consultation
The goal is a self‑care‑aware consultation in which patients are:
- asked whether they used self‑care before consulting
- praised for doing so
- encouraged to consider self‑care next time where appropriate
- offered information and support on self‑management and when to seek advice
A self‑care‑aware clinician is a patient‑centred, positive communicator and educator who is highly valued by patients.
SCF fact sheets can support clinicians in delivering consistent, empowering messages.
- Promote national and local awareness events, such as Self‑Care Week, and collaborate with local partners to amplify public‑health messages
Awareness events like Self‑Care Week provide a valuable opportunity for practices to highlight self‑care messages and engage patients in improving their wellbeing. Working jointly with local authorities, community pharmacies, voluntary organisations, and other local agencies can help ensure consistent, trusted public‑health information reaches more people.
Collaborative promotion — through shared posters, aligned messaging, community events, or joint social‑media activity — strengthens local impact and reinforces the role of primary care as a partner in community health. It’s recommended to use the Self‑Care Forum’s Self-Care Week resources and fact sheets during these campaigns.