Your Life: FEELING ILL Then Head for the High Street

By ADAM ASPINALL

CHRISTMAS is a time for fun with friends and family, not to worry about trips to see the doctor. Falling ill over Christmas can ruin the festive season. It can be difficult to find a medic to see you face-to-face since 95 per cent of NHS GPs opted not to answer out- of-hours calls last year.

Besides, when you’re laden down with shopping and desperately trying to find the next Tracy Island for little Tommy, your health concerns can go out of the window.

But help is closer to hand and much more convenient than you may think. High-street pharmacies are offering a wide range of free health tests to put your mind at ease.

Just ask Ann Edwards, who is clinical nurse manager at the Birmingham NHS Walkin Centre.

Based in the city-centre branch of Boots, the service offers fast and convenient access to medical advice, treatment and information for the hard-pressed Christmas shopper.

"A lot of people find us very reassuring," says Ann. "That’s especially true of young mothers who want to see a nurse face-to- face and don’t want to wait for an appointment at a GP’s surgery.

"You can have an assessment at any time. Drop in whenever you want and we’ll see you as soon as we can.

"We’re open every day and all over the Christmas period. Our aim is not only to help people with their medical problems but to take some of the strain off hospitals and doctors during this busy period."

While in Boots, you could also take advantage of other free tests on offer.

They’ve begun a Department of Health initiative to make it easier for 16-24-year-old men and women to be screened and tested for chlamydia, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Boots also offers a free cholesterol test. Although many believe that high cholesterol affects only those who are overweight or inactive, it can be a danger to anyone, including those with healthy lifestyles.

If you’re worried youmay be suffering from diabetes, help is at hand at Lloyds Pharmacy, who now offer a service that can help to identify your risk of developing the disease.

They also offer a free blood pressure test – and just as well.

A recent survey found that 63 per cent of men and 59 per cent of women had no idea what their blood pressure might be, despite the fact that it’s the main risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.

Andy Murdock,pharmacy director for Lloyds, explains: "It’s frustrating that in this day and age so many people still aren’t going to get themselves tested.

"Diagnosed conditions associated with hypertension can usually be effectively managed – and 1,200 of our pharmacies offer free blood- pressure tests."

One of the most common problems this winter is flu but Superdrug have already inoculated more than 3,000 customers at flu jab clinics across the country, and offer free advice to shoppers on how they can reduce the risk. Clive Daley, Superdrug’s healthcare director, says: "We’re committed to cutting the cost of our customers’ coughs and colds this Christmas. Try saying that with a blocked-up nose