Complete waste of money

I haven't seen any of the leaflets or the posters, but I do think that it is actually the elderly who are more likely to have some underlying complication if they are feeling under the weather, so it is just these people who perhaps should be seeing the GP to check them over.

Yes this isn't just a leaflet - I have seen huge billboards and bus ads in this part of London. It says " Over 60 and feeling under the weather?" And a picture of an umbrella and then some tosh about going to a pharmacist and not A and E.

We haven't had a leaflet yet. Does it say over 60? Do they realise when the retirement age is now?

It does seem to be that those in Ivory towers wot think up these leaflets and ads lump all over 60s into the same 'old, slightly senile and decrepit' box.

And why target over 60s? I saw this ad on the back of a huge bus recently- I wondered is it ok to go to A and E if you are under 60 and feeling " under the weather" ? I think whoever is in charge of this ad campaign should be hauled over the coals.

Why do the powers that be think we suddenly decline into stupidity? Just have to agree with the general sentiments expressed here - it makes me very cross!

...and such a waste of money at a time when the NHS is stretched for cash to look after us properly if we are ill enough to be admitted to hospital.

OMG I agree, how many over 60s go to A and E with a cold? This is so ridiculous.

And there are many people well below 60 who are not capable of running their own lives. Do they think we are are all superwomen until out 60th birthday, then overnight we can't even make up our own minds whether we have a bit of a sniffle or double pneumonia?

It is also the assumption that if you are over 60 you need constantly hand-holding and reassurance from your carer.

Of course if people are disabled, particularly if they are having mind or memory problems, they may well look to others for help and advice, but disability stretches across all ages, not just old age. My father lived to be 92 and was completely capable of managing and running his own live to within weeks of his death. He was not exceptional. I know and have met a lot of extremely elderly people who are more than capable of managing their own lives. The whole leaflet was patronising and offensive.

There's an advert on the radio which tells people to watch out for old people and make sure that they get proper medical advice if they're feeling under the weather.

I do think there are a lot of confusing messages going around. On the one hand they're telling people not to bother the doctor with coughs and colds and on the other they're putting out these sorts of adverts about older people.

I don't understand anyone going to the doctors with just a cold but if accompanied by other symptoms - bad cough, severe ear ache, sore throat, etc.- surely it would be better to get checked out rather than to risk relatively treatable symptoms becoming more serious?

And how much did it cost?

This leaflet made me cross as well. If you don't know when you are poorly enough to need to see a doctor by the time you are 60, when will you?

I also told them that if I was feeling 'under the weather' they could prescribe a week in the sun. They didn't reply to that either.

They Tweeted this a week ago. I responded by telling them to stop patronising. Didn't get a reply.

A bit more window dressing.