HAMPSHIRE GPs are urging locals to seek early medical advice for health problems even if they don’t appear serious.

Doctors are backing the national ‘Feeling Under the Weather’ campaign encouraging residents to seek help from their local pharmacist if feeling unwell.

In particular the campaign wants older people to report coughs and wheezes especially if they have existing conditions like asthma or bronchitis as they are more vulnerable to winter illnesses.

Dr Barbara Rushton, who chairs NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which governs GP services in the area, said: “Every winter, doctors and nurses see high numbers of older and frail people admitted to hospital because of a deteriorating respiratory or other chronic condition caused by immobility, the cold and viral illnesses.

“People leave it too late to seek advice for wheezes, coughs and sneezes because they don’t think it’s serious enough.

“But no problem is too small for your local pharmacist, who is a highly trained and trusted source of health advice.”

Hampshire doctors are also encouraging people to use the NHS 111 phone service if they are worried about illness.