Positive Help Edinburgh

Festive Opening Times and Information

Festive Opening Times and Emergency Contacts

Positive Help will be closed only on the 4 public holidays over the festive season- the 25th and 26th December and the 1st and 2nd January. We are likely to have reduced capacity for service delivery over the festive fortnight but will still deliver all 4 of our services.

We have prepared some useful emergency information just in case you require assistance whilst Positive Help is closed for Christmas we thought these numbers could be useful:

* Emergency Social Work 0800 731 6969

* Crisis Centre – 0808 801 0414

* NHS 24 – call 111

Be prepared for the festive break

There’s a lot of excitement and activity in the run-up to Christmas. But it can be quite challenging to prepare for the two periods over Christmas and New Year when health and social care services run limited services or shut down altogether. So it’s best to plan ahead for these periods and to be prepared.

Take as many steps as you can now so that you, your friends and family are safe and well over the festive period.

Here are some top tips:

Being prepared and planning ahead for winter conditions can include the following –

 

* Wrap up well when going outdoors

* Keep your home at a constant temperature (max temp is 18-21°C)

* Wear plenty of thin layers rather than one thick one

* Wear something on your head (most body heat is lost from the head)

* Shut doors to keep heat in the rooms used most

* Eat and drink well. Food is a vital source of warmth

* Get advice from the Advice Shop or CAB or shop (0131 200 2360)

 

Look after your health

 

* Restock your medicine cabinet with some over the counter remedies that can be used to treat common winter illnesses. Your pharmacist can advise you.

* Order and collect your repeat prescription(s) before the festive holidays. Remember, check your existing supplies and only order what you need to make sure you don’t run out over the holidays.

* Note that your GP surgery may be closed for four days at Christmas and four days at New Year. If you need medical attention please phone NHS 24 on 111 or visit www.nhs24.com

 

Get ready for winter at home

 

* Know where your stop valve is and how to turn your water off

* Know how to turn off your electricity supply at the mains

* If cold weather is forecast and during a cold snap, keep your heating on at a lower temperature to help prevent pipes from freezing

* If you can’t heat all your rooms, make sure you keep your living warm during the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed

* Wear the right type of clothes – layers are best

* Stay active and talk to friends and family if you live alone!

 

What to do encounter damage to your home this winter

 

* If your pipes freeze – turn off the stop valve immediately. Drain all your cold taps but do not turn on hot taps

* Never attempt to thaw out frozen pipes by switching on your immersion heater or central heating boiler. Check for leaking joints or bursts in the pipes and if safe to do so, gently heat any frozen sections with a hairdryer or heated cloth wrapped around the pipe. Never apply a direct flame