DOCTORS have urged people to go into winter with a fully stocked medicine cabinet and an understanding of how to keep themselves healthy at home.

GPs in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen have made the calls ahead of Self-Care Week, an annual awareness event that this year runs from November 18 to November 24.

They said that cold weather can be bad for people's health and can worsen chronic conditions including heart disease.

Burnley GP Dr David White, and clinical lead for unscheduled care at East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “We all have a personal responsibility to look after, and manage, our own health.

"We should all know the basics of being able to manage minor, short-term illnesses without the need for a GP appointment.

"That doesn’t mean never seeing a doctor or other health professional but knowing when it is appropriate to do so."

Alongside regular medication, a well-stocked medicine cabinet should include items such as a first aid kit, which should have bandages, plasters thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape for dressings and tweezers, inside it.