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Trainees in 24 Bty are unable to self certify.

Other SPs can self certify for periods of illness expected to last no longer than 48hrs without medical intervention, for example diarrhoea, vomiting and the common cold.

This is limited to a total of 8 days in a 12 month period.

CoC should be informed by the SP immediately and the sick leave placed on JPA using leave type sickness.

The CO can reduce the use of this system for individuals or groups on medical advice or readiness requirements.

This policy does not extend to Operations or Exercises.

Full details in 2021DIN01-043 and JSP 760

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We want to provide the best service we can, please see details below of how you can let us know how we are doing, good or bad so we can learn and improve.

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The Sick parade Procedure.

Report to the Medical Centre between 0800-0815

Eligibility:

- Service Personnel

- Medical issue starting within 24hrs (48/72 if over the weekend)

- Non-urgent issue

Additional Info:

- Contact your med desk or reception if you are outside of these times.

- See Self-Certified Sickness Absence for information to self certify sick.

Emergencies - Call 999

Urgent Issues - Call Reception 01980 845266

Admin Issues - Call Med Desk 01980845423

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Used for routine healthcare enquiries and appointments for non-urgent cases. Urgent cases should still use the sick parade system.

Search for Larkhill Medical Centre

Select appropriate option, ensure you include as much detail as possible and write in your service number and unit.

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Consult Online from Home - Larkhill Medical Centre

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Get help for your condition - or request treatment and advice from your own GP online

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Use NHS 111

111 Online

Emergency Services on 112 or 999

Attend A&E or Minor Injuries.

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111 online will not give you a diagnosis, but we will direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms.

We cannot:

issue fit notes - you need to contact your GP surgery

make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS

Read about how 111 online works in detail

NHS 111 online is available in England only.

Get help in:

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111 online will not give you a diagnosis, but we will direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms. We cannot: issue fit notes - you need to contact your GP surgery make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS Read about how 111 online works in detail NHS 111 online is available in England only.

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14th Regiment the Royal Artillery Med Desk

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14th Regiment the Royal Artillery Med Desk

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01980 845423

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01980 845266

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01980 845597

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Patient Information Leaflets for medications

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Patient Information Leaflets for medications

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The most up to date, comprehensive, regulated information about medicines. Easy to use, trusted and recommended by healthcare professionals

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Information and guidance about eating a healthy, balanced diet.

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0800323444 for serving personnel and their families.

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Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.

SSAFA is outside of the military chain of command, will listen and they will not judge. Your privacy when seeking help is fundamentally important to us.

You can now talk to our Forcesline advisors online with the new live chat service.

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Our team is here to listen and not to judge. We can give you useful information and signpost ways to help you.

Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.

SSAFA is outside of the military chain of command, will listen and we will not judge. Your privacy when seeking help is fundamentally important to us.

You can now talk to our Forcesline advisors online with our live chat service. Please click on the button below to start your conversation:

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Our team is here to listen and not to judge. We can give you useful information and signpost ways to help you. Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving (regulars and reserves), ex-Forces and for their families.

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Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

They won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect

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We’re Mind. We’re here to fight mental health across England and Wales. For support for respect, for you.

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About Shout 85258

Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

They have had more than 1.4 million conversations with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support.

As a digital service, Shout has become increasingly critical since Covid-19, being one of the few mental health support services able to operate as normal at this time.

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24/7

You can text us any time, day or night.

Confidential

Your messages with us are confidential and anonymous.

Free

It is free to text Shout from all major mobile networks in the UK.

Get involved

Donations doubled in the Big Give Christmas Challenge

Simply support Shout's Big Give campaign by midday on 5 December, and your donation will be doubled!

Can you help us hit our match funding target of £50,000 and support a further 5,000 people this winter?

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Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you're definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.

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I think Shout saved my life tonight... no one has ever made me feel so safe, listened to and understood

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Online resources and support

However you're feeling right now, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you with your mental health.

Take a look at our resources, information and support, find further help or reach out to one of our volunteers.

Resources for you

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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Whatever you’re facing, a Samaritan will face it with you
Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.

Samaritans are here, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
A 24 hour helpline can be contacted 116 123

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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The Big White Wall offers self-help programmes, creative outlets and provide a supportive online community.

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Togetherall was formerly called Big White Wall. Find further information on the beginnings of our mental health support community.

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Drinkaware provides independent alcohol advice, information and tools to help people make better choices about their drinking.

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Realising you have a problem with alcohol is the first big step to getting help.
You may need help if:

you often feel the need to have a drink

you get into trouble because of your drinking

other people warn you about how much you're drinking

you think your drinking is causing you problems

A good place to start is with a GP. Try to be accurate and honest about how much you drink and any problems it may be causing you.

If you have become dependent on alcohol, you will have found it difficult to fully control your drinking in some way.

So you'll probably need some help either to cut down and control your drinking or stop completely, and also some plans to maintain the improvement after that.

The GP may suggest different types of assessment and support options available to you, such as from local community alcohol services.

You can also ask about any free local support groups and other alcohol counselling that may suit you.
Find alcohol addiction support services in your area
If you have become physically dependent and need to stop drinking completely, stopping overnight could be harmful.

You should get advice about this and about any medicine you may need to do this safely.

The sorts of mild or moderate withdrawal symptoms that suggest you may need medicine include:

anxiety after waking

sweating and mild tremors

nausea or retching in the morning

vomiting

Call 999 if you have severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including:

hallucinations

severe tremors

seizures or fits

Staying healthy and in control

Cutting down or stopping drinking is usually just the beginning, and most people will need some degree of help or a long-term plan to stay in control or completely alcohol free.

Getting the right support can be crucial to maintaining control in the future. Only relying on family, friends or carers for this often is not enough.

Ask a GP or alcohol service about what longer-term support is available in your area.

Self-help or mutual aid groups (groups such as AA or SMART Recovery groups) are accessible in most areas.

Useful contacts for alcohol problems

Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups.

Al-Anon Family Groups offer support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers, whether they're still drinking or not. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and can be attended by 12 to 17-year-olds who are affected by another person's drinking, usually a parent.

We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.

Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol. Adfam operates an online message board and local support groups.

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) provides a free, confidential telephone and email helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned about their welfare. Call 0800 358 3456 for the Nacoa helpline.

SMART Recovery groups help people decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

Caring for an alcoholic? Find out where you can get support on the Carers Trust website.

Alcohol detoxification

Most people receive support to stop drinking and recovery support in the community.

If you need medicine to help you stop drinking, it can often be taken at home or when attending a local service daily.

But some people will need a short stay in a medically supported unit so they can receive safe treatment of their withdrawal symptoms or other problems.

This may be in an NHS inpatient unit or a medically supported residential service, depending on your situation and the assessed medical need.

Intensive rehabilitation

Some people are assessed as needing intensive rehabilitation and recovery support for a period after they stop drinking completely, either through attending a programme of intensive support in their local community or by attending a residential rehabilitation service.

This type of intensive treatment is usually reserved for people with medium or high levels of alcohol dependence, and those who have received other forms of help previously that have not been successful.

Local authorities are responsible for alcohol treatment services. Intensive residential rehabilitation may require an additional assessment process to determine if there is funding for this.

It's also possible to pay for residential rehabilitation privately. Medical insurance companies may fund this for a certain period.

Find out more about treatments for alcohol misuse.

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Realising you have a problem with alcohol is the first step to getting better, but it's often the hardest one.

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Alcohol Change UK is a leading UK alcohol charity, formed from the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK.

Alcohol is a part of many of our lives. We use it for celebration, for comfort, to socialise, to wind down, to cope. We treat it differently to other drugs; it’s legal, socially acceptable, even encouraged.

They are not anti-alcohol; they are for alcohol change. They are for a future in which people drink as a conscious choice, not a default; where the issues which lead to alcohol problems – like poverty, mental health issues, homelessness – are addressed; where those of us who drink too much, and our loved ones, have access to high-quality support whenever we need it, without shame or stigma.

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There are lots of different types of support, finding the right one is an individual choice and what works for some people, will not always work for others.

If you are worried about your drinking or even just curious, take our drinking quiz to see if it's likely to be affecting your health.

You'll be asked a few simple questions about your drinking habits, like how often you drink and how many units you consume in an average week.

If your score is 15 or more, you may wish to discuss it with your GP or your local alcohol service, as you could benefit from cutting back. If your score is 20 or more, you are at risk of alcohol dependence and we would strongly advise you to speak to your GP or local alcohol service as soon as possible, to find out about your options for reducing your drinking.

Warning!

People who are clinically alcohol dependent can die if they suddenly, completely stop drinking.

If you experience fits, shaking hands, sweating, seeing things that are not real, depression, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping after a period of drinking and while sobering up, then you may be clinically alcohol dependent and should NOT suddenly, completely stop drinking.

But you can still take control of your drinking. Talk to a GP or your local community alcohol service who will be able to get help for you to reduce your drinking safely.

Wherever you live, there will be a service in your area which supports people with alcohol problems. You can access these services in a few key ways:

Your GP is your first port of call for alcohol problems. They will be able to provide confidential advice and refer you for extra support.

Check on your local authority website to see how you can access your local provider.

There are a number of NHS services directories you can use to find support and treatment services near you:

You can also find support remotely:

Drinkline, a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else's. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am-8pm, weekends 11am-4pm)

If you live in Wales, you can contact the DAN 24/7 alcohol and drug any time of the day or night. Freephone: 0808 808 2234, or text DAN to: 81066.

Alcoholics Anonymous, whose helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 9177 650. If you would prefer, you can also email them at [email protected] or live chat via their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.

You can join a SMART Recovery meeting online here. SMART holds both face-to-face and online meetings which support people in managing harmful addictive behaviour. The SMART Recovery Programme helps individuals and family members of those who are struggling. They also have women's only meetings and those specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Al-Anon which offers support and understanding to the families and friends of dependent drinkers. You can call their confidential helpline on 0800 0086 811 (open 10am-10pm). There are lots more resources for families and friends here.

Nacoa support anyone affected by their parent(s) drinking, including adults. Here are some of the questions that children often ask about alcohol and the effects on them and their family. For more information, visit nacoa.org.uk, call 0800 358 3456 or email [email protected] . You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

If you are looking for urgent support please contact the Samaritans, who are available 24/7 on 116 123 or [email protected] .

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If you're worried that you're drinking too much, there's support available. Find out about your options.

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Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today. | FRANK

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Find out how using an NHS stop smoking service can improve your chances of quitting smoking. Plus, how to contact a stop smoking adviser and what sessions involve.

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If you smoke, you might be more at risk of having high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

High blood pressure does not usually have any symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it, is to get a check. If you are 40 or over, live in England and haven't had a check in the last 6 months, you can get your blood pressure checked for free at your pharmacy today.

If your blood pressure is high, then it can be managed through lifestyle changes or medication.

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When you stop smoking, good things start to happen to your health. Get free support from the NHS to become smoke free and help build a smokefree generation.

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Smoking is very harmful to your heart. It seriously increases your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.

To keep your heart healthy, you can make small lifestyle changes to help you quit smoking.

What does smoking do to my heart and circulatory system?

The chemicals in cigarettes make the walls of your arteries sticky. This causes fatty material to stick to the walls. The fatty material can begin to clog your arteries and reduce the space for blood to flow properly.

If the arteries that carry blood to your heart get clogged, it can lead to a heart attack.

If the arteries that carry blood to your brain get clogged, it can lead to a stroke.

Smoking can also affect your heart and blood vessels by:

increasing your risk of blood clots

causing an instant rise to your heart rate

causing an instant rise to your blood pressure

reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to the rest of your body.

What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

You might notice benefits sooner than you think:

your heart rate and blood pressure will begin to return to normal after 20 minutes

your sense of smell and taste will begin to improve after 2-3 days

your risk of a heart attack is half that of a smoker after 1 year.

Quitting smoking also has other benefits like:

you will have fresher breath and whiter teeth

your skin might look younger and age less quickly

you might have more energy, feel less tired and get less headaches

your immune system will find it easier to fight off colds and flu

your sex drive may increase, and it can improve your fertility

you will protect the health of your children, family and friends.

It's never too late to benefit from stopping smoking. On average, smokers who quit in their 30s will add 10 years to their life. Even quitting at 60 will add 3 years. Being a non-smoker can also improve your chances of being more physically active and healthier as you get older.

What is in a cigarette?

Cigarettes contain many toxic chemicals that harm your body even after you've finished your cigarette. Some of the harmful chemicals used in cigarettes are:

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It prevents your blood from carrying oxygen around your body properly. This forces your heart to work harder than it should. It also stops your lungs working as well as they should.

Tar

Tar stains smokers' teeth and fingers a yellow-brown colour. It is very harmful to your health, it can cause:

cancer

lung disease

heart and circulatory diseases

your lungs to be more vulnerable to infections

Nicotine

Nicotine is the addictive chemical found in regular cigarettes, most e-cigarettes and shisha. It increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Untreated high blood pressure can increase the risk of:

Are smoking alternatives less harmful than cigarettes?

No smoking alternatives are risk-free but some are less harmful than cigarettes.

E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, or vapes, are less harmful than regular cigarettes and they can be used to help you quit smoking. An e-cigarette is a device that you breath in vapour (steam) from rather than smoke.

The vapour contains nicotine, the addictive chemical used in cigarettes. E-cigarettes don't burn tobacco and they don't produce tar or carbon monoxide.

E-cigarettes can help you quit smoking by managing your cravings for nicotine. But because they use nicotine, e-cigarettes can be addictive. You should only use your e-cigarette when you really need it. If you have used e-cigarettes to successfully quit smoking normal cigarettes, you should consider quitting these as well.

E-cigarettes should not be used by non-smokers or young people.

Shisha

Shisha is not safer than smoking cigarettes. A specially prepared tobacco is heated to produce smoke. The smoke bubbles through a bowl of water and into a long hose-like pipe to be breathed in.

Despite what some believe, shisha isn't an alternative to cigarettes. Like cigarettes, shisha tobacco can contain:

nicotine

tar

carbon monoxide

heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.

Even if you use tobacco-free shisha, the smoke still produces harmful levels of toxins. This can be either just as bad for you or even more harmful than smoke from tobacco-based shisha.

In a shisha session (which usually lasts 20-80 minutes), a shisha smoker can inhale the same amount of smoke as a cigarette smoker consuming over 100 cigarettes. Find out more about shisha

Smokeless tobacco

Smokeless tobacco is not safer than smoking cigarettes. It's a type of tobacco that can either be chewed, sucked, or inhaled without producing smoke.

Most smokeless tobaccos have the same amount of nicotine as cigarettes. They can also have more than 25 chemicals that are known to cause cancer. Using smokeless tobacco can also increase your risk of having:

complicated pregnancies

mouth and tooth problems

heart and circulatory diseases.

You might see smokeless tobacco being called snuff, snus or spit tobacco.

Low tar cigarettes

Smoking 'low tar' cigarettes is not safer than smoking regular cigarettes. Some cigarette packages describe the product as 'low tar', but this is misleading. Most 'low tar' cigarettes have the same amount of harmful chemicals as regular cigarettes.

'Low tar' cigarettes are often found in countries where the process of making cigarettes is less regulated than in the UK.

Around half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related conditions, like heart and circulatory diseases. Even if you've smoked for years, it's never too late to stop. If you quit today, you might feel more energised to play with your children or grandchildren in just a couple of weeks.
Read our top 10 tips

Is second-hand smoke harmful?

Yes, second-hand smoke is harmful. Second-hand smoke (also known as passive smoke) is when you breathe in the smoke in the air from someone else's cigarette and the smoke they breathe out.

When the people around you breathe in your cigarette smoke, it increases their risk of developing:

breathing problems

cancers like lung cancer

heart and circulatory diseases like strokes and heart attacks.

Second-hand smoke is very dangerous and can increase the risk of lung cancer by up to 30%.

Children who live in a home with smokers can have double the risk of getting illnesses like:

pneumonia

ear infections

wheezing and asthma.

You can help to protect your loved ones, friends and colleagues from the dangers of second-hand smoke by quitting.

How can I quit smoking?

If you quit smoking, you will greatly improve your health and the health of everyone around you. Beating a smoking habit is a challenge for many and it's totally normal to have cravings while trying to quit. It may feel hard to resist the temptation to smoke sometimes. But you can make small changes to make it easier to stick to it:

Try to think positively - even if you've tried to quit before and didn't manage it, don't let it put you off trying again.

Set a date to quit and tell your family, friends and colleagues so they can help you stick to it.

Plan how you will deal with your cravings when you're at events and times where you would usually smoke.

If you usually smoke after meals, eat foods that can make cigarettes taste bad like cheese, fruit and vegetables. Or change your routine to keep your mind busy when you would usually smoke, like washing the dishes straight after eating.

Cravings usually last around 5 minutes. Plan things you can do in 5 minutes to stay busy for when you get cravings.

When you're out, hold your drink with the hand that used to hold cigarettes and use a straw. This will help to keep your hands and mouth busy.

When you get a craving, remind yourself of why you're quitting. You may want to carry a picture of your family with you to look at if you're tempted to smoke.

You are not alone. Aside from your family and friends, you can get support from healthcare professionals, stop smoking programmes and nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine replacement therapies are designed to help you quit smoking, but they should only be used to quit for good.

Smoking cessation programs offer many useful resources and are often more effective than doing it on your own.

You can make an appointment with your GP, pharmacy or practice nurse. They will be able to help you find a way to stop smoking that works for you.

Help and support

You're more likely to quit if you have support:

You can trust our health information

We've followed an eight-step process to make sure this content is reliable, accurate and trustworthy. Learn how we make our health information reliable and easy to understand.
Page last updated: August 2023 Next update due: August 2026

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If you smoke, quitting is the single most important step you can take to protect the health of your heart. Find out more about how smoking affects your heart.

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When suffering from an acute MSKI condition follow the below approach until the issue subsises or you attend the Med Centre.

P rotection and P ain relief
O ptimal L oading
I ce
C ompression
E levation

Protection-stop the activity, shield the effected area from extra strain.

Pain relief, see self help section of Padlet.

Optimal Loading- don't stop using the area completely, mobilise it and load it to the point of discomfort not pain. Whilst not pleasant it will help your recovery.

Ice- use ice to reduce pain and inflammation place frozen object inside a piece of material to avoid burning skin and don't use for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Compression-if a limb is swelling, wrap a bandage firmly but not too tightly around it, keep an eye on fingers or toes to ensure you are cutting off circulation.

Elevation-raise the area above heart height when resting to reduce and limit the swelling. Go on put your feet up and chill.

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The long-used R.I.C.E. method may not be the best way to treat an acute injury. The acronym stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and E levation. For many years, physical therapists-as well as athletic trainers, healthcare providers, and sports medicine specialists-have recommended it for managing acute injuries.

Now, though, the P.O.L.I.C.E. Principle may be the new way your physical therapist approaches your acute injury treatment. It can help guide you in the proper way to use ice and gentle motion to quickly get back to your normal activities.

Why R.I.C.E. Was Recommended

Under R.I.C.E., for an injury such as a sprained ankle, your healthcare provider would tell you to first rest it, then apply ice while using some form of compression (like an ACE bandage), and elevate the injured body part.

The thought process behind this is that in the initial days following injury, your body brings a lot of blood and fluid to the injured site to prepare it for healing. But your body brings too much fluid to the injured area. This excessive fluid limits range of motion (ROM) around your joint, which can actually delay proper healing.

The Problem With R.I.C.E.

While the R.I.C.E. technique makes sense, it has a few shortcomings. First, it hasn't really been proven to work like we think it does.

One study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found a lack of solid evidence that the R.I.C.E. treatment for ankle sprains leads to better outcomes. In fact, some experts believe that applying ice right after an injury impedes the normal healing process.

Another problem with the R.I.C.E. technique is that many people take the "rest" phase a little too far.

Often after acute injury, a little bit of rest is necessary. However, you may feel compelled to rest your injured muscle or joint for far longer than is actually necessary. That can lead to decreased muscle strength and flexibility, which can delay your return to normal function and activity.

Why P.O.L.I.C.E. Is Better

Now, some physical therapists are recommending the P.O.L.I.C.E. principle instead of R.I.C.E. The P.O.L.I.C.E. acronym means:

Protection:During the first few days after an injury, you should certainly rest the injured joint, ligament, or muscle. After that, you can start gentle motion while still maintaining some protection of the injured area. During this time, you may require some sort of assistive device, like crutches, to walk.

Optimum Loading: This describes the gentle motion you can start while in the Protection phase. For example, after a shoulder injury or shoulder surgery, you should be able to progress from a few days of rest to passive range-of-motion (ROM) movement, active ROM, and finally, rotator cuff strengthening exercises.

This progressive loading of your injury can help promote optimal healing, and it can prevent delays in returning to normal due to joint and muscle tightness or muscle atrophy.

Ice: Applying ice may help to manage the swelling around your injured muscle or joint, and ice can help decrease some of the acute pain that you may be experiencing. Your physical therapist (PT) can help you determine the best method of applying an ice to your injury. He or she can also teach you how to make your own ice pack.

Compression: While applying ice, you can add compression with an ACE bandage. You can also use a product like Ice Tape to cool and compress the injury at the same time.

Elevation: Elevation is simple for some body parts. An injured ankle or knee can be placed on a stack of pillows while you are lying down. An injury to your elbow or wrist requires that you elevate your entire arm on something. Your PT can help advise you on the best way to elevate your injury.

The P.O.L.I.C.E. principle deviates slightly from the R.I.C.E. method. "Rest" is out, replaced with "optimal loading" and "movement." This keeps your injured part more mobile, decreases stiffness, and may help you recover faster.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

The P.O.L.I.C.E. principle is a simple method to try after acute injury, but a visit to your physical therapist may be helpful or necessary. He or she can first help you figure out the best protection for your injury.

For example, a shoulder injury may initially require the use of a sling, and a knee ligament injury may require a brace during the initial healing phases.

Your physical therapist can advise you on exactly how much protection your injured body needs as well as when it's time to stop protecting the injury and start using the injured part again.

A PT can also guide you in the "optimal loading" part of the P.O.L.I.C.E. principle. After an injury, you may be required to perform simple exercises and motions to allow your injured muscle or ligament to heal properly.

As your injury heals, your physical therapist can change your exercises to ensure that optimal loading and proper healing occurs. When things are fully healed, you'll be able to move freely and get back to normal activity without having to worry about stiffness or loss of strength that may come with a lengthy period of rest.

A Word From Verywell

If you have suffered an acute musculoskeletal injury like a sprain or muscle strain, a visit to your healthcare provider or physical therapist is a good first step in your care. He or she may recommend the P.O.L.I.C.E. method to treat your injury.

The P.O.L.I.C.E. method is a simple acronym to help ensure that you protect your joint, optimally load your joint, and get the benefits of ice, compression, and elevation. Following this method may help you return to your normal activity quickly and safely.

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The P.O.L.I.C.E. Principle Emergency Treatment for Acute Injuries

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The long-used R.I.C.E. method may not be the best way to treat an acute injury. The acronym stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and E levation. For many years, physical therapists-as well as athletic trainers, healthcare providers, and sports medicine specialists-have recommended it for managing acute injuries. Now, though, the P.O.L.I.C.E.

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QRCode for 14th Regiment the Royal Artillery

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14th Regiment Royal Artillery Suggestions Box

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14th Regiment Royal Artillery Suggestions Box

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Easily create surveys and polls to collect customer feedback, measure employee satisfaction, and organize team events.

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Our vision is to ensure the organisation delivers the best possible care to every patient, as close to the point of injury as possible. We want every soldier to have faith that everything possible will be done to limit the affect of their injuries or illness on their life and career.

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SOPs-reviewed annually and updated earlier if, noticeable best practice changes occur.

Tactical Training- to deliver care as close to point of wounding as possible and still protecting staff, we need to ensure our CMTs have the situational awareness and requisite skills to survive, treat and fight in the hostile environment.

Clinical Training- the forefront of our training needs, this ensures all clinicians are current and competent and up to date with the latest advancements in clinical care, be they equipment, medication or procedure.

Cross Training-taking lessons from other clinical or rescue providers across the civilian sector and NATO can only enhance the care we deliver to our population.

Force Health Protection- ensuring soldiers are fit to fight as much as possible and using occupational health avenues to give protected recovery time to those that currently aren't will ensure the least possible injuries and illnesses sustained. This in turn prevents over burdening the Role 1 facility deployed, allowing capacity to focus on BI and DNBI over routine healthcare.

Advice- advice to the CoC and patients at all levels protects and mitigates from risk where possible. It also encourages an environment of self help and aid and a culture of disease/injury prevention ensuring capability and resources are reserved for where truly needed. Building a resilient population builds a resilient service.

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Advice for Adults only

Pain-
Paracetamol 1g (2 tablets) every 4-6hours (do not exceed 4g [8tablets] in 24hrs). Do not take with other products containing paracetamol. Can be used in conjunction with ibuprofen. Works best if used to maintain reduced Pain, keep to the schedule until recovered as once Pain restarts it will take longer to work. Available in general sales.

Co-codamol 8/500mg-stronger than paracetamol allowed, 2 tablets every 4-6hours. Be aware may cause constipation so use for no more than 3 days without medical advice. Available by speaking to a pharmacist.

Ice and heat-for MSKI injuries, see the MSKI section for more info including exercises and the POLICE approach.

Pain and swelling-
Ibuprofen 400mg (2 x 200mg tablet) take every 4-6 hours, do not exceed 1.2g (6 tablets) in 24hrs without medical advice. Use with caution if asthmatic. Part of the NSAID suite of medicines useful for reducing swelling and pain. Not advised within first 24-48hours of soft tissue injury. Available general sales

Allergies-
Loratadine 10mg (1 tablet) take 1 tablet a day for hay-fever or other allergies, use in advance of symptoms when expecting allergies to occur, eg on high pollen count days. Available general sales.

Chlorphenamine 4mg (1tablet) every 4-6 hours. Do not exceed 6 hours in a 24hr period. WARNING may cause drowsiness avoid when handling weapons or machinery. Available at pharmacies.

Hydrocortisone 1% cream. Useful for irritating bites or stings, apply thinly to affected area as needed. Avoid prolonged use as can thin skin if over used. Available at pharmacies.

Coughs and colds-

Available remedies focus on easing symptoms but not cause. Take on plenty of fluids and use remedies from supermarkets/pharmacies to relief symptoms. Increase vitamin c and zinc intake to boost immune system. Over herbal/natural remedies may help such as echinacia but evidence to support these claims is minimal. Be aware some products such as lemsip contain paracetamol.

Headaches and Migraines

Paracetamol - as in the Pain section.

Ibuprofen - as in the Pain and swelling section.

Migraleave -as per direction on packet Available from pharmacy.

Cold compress- a cool damp flannel on the forehead.

Darkness lie in a dark room or use sunglasses.

Fever-

If a Fever becomes unbearable paracetamol as for Pain relief can be used to ease symptoms. Cold compresses of the head or wrists can also help. Ensure you stay hydrated.

Nausea and Vomiting-

Hydration-plenty of clear fluids, use small sips to help keep it down.

Diarolyte- Available at pharmacy to replace lost salts and sugars, mix as direct on packet.

BRAT Diet-avoid food for 24 hours and use plain dry foods such as Banana, Rice, Apples or Toast.

Diarrhoea

Hydration-plenty of clear fluids, use small sips to help keep it down.

Diarolyte- Available at pharmacy to replace lost salts and sugars, mix as direct on packet.

BRAT Diet-eat plain dry foods such as Banana, Rice, Apples or Toast.

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QUALITY OVER QUANTITY-we want to deliver high quality, accurate care to our population, taking extra time to focus on what that individual needs, their requirements, that expectations and reality are fully understood and balanced by both the patient and clinician.

SUSTAINABILITY-it is not fair to anyone if we cannot continue the care we start, or if we deliver a different level of care to one patient over another. There are caveats to this, care will be continued but may have to do so under other specialist departments, there are also times where resources may restrict capabilities, but the population can be assured that every effort will be made to mitigate this.

TRANSPARENCY-humans make mistakes, we cannot guarantee to never make one, what we can promise is to always be open and honest, ensuring you know what mistake has been made, what has been done to rectify it, and what is being done to prevent future occurrences.

PATIENT CENTRED-we strive to put the patient at the heart of what we do, be this policies or practice. This does not mean we will give patients everything they want, but will deliver what they need, listen to them and give choice where we can. Their views and wishes and those of advocates will always be taken into consideration.

BALANCE-there will be times of conflict between the needs of the services and the needs of the patients, we will arbitrate where necessary and help both to compromise  whilst keeping patients safe.

PROTECT STAFF-whilst the patients are the heart of our core beliefs, we can only help them if we help ourselves, we will protect our staff from abuse, give them opportunities to grow and develop and will actively pursue a healthy work/life balance.