A YORKSHIRE weatherman is forecasting a harsher winter than last year so the message from local GPs is to have good health all wrapped up.

Former Met Office weatherman John Kettley is predicting that winter 2014/15 will see more likelihood of bitterly cold snaps, ice and even snow.

Yorkshire-born John, who now works as a freelance weatherman and supplies forecasts to the BBC and Radio Five Live, told the NHS team: “This winter will be very different to last year when autumn seemed to continue with wet and windy weather and we never saw snow. There are few signs we will have a repeat of last year.

“Instead, we are much more likely to have some very cold snaps, severe frosts and yes – some snowIn view of that, I feel it’s very sensible that the message from the NHS is for people to be prepared.”

Advice from NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to patients is to stock up on vital medicines in the event that bad weather makes it difficult to get out and about – and this includes being prepared with repeat prescriptions.

Making sure patients have enough medicines to see them through the winter can not only make a difference to patients’ health but it could also ensure doctors are not called out unnecessarily or that people are not heading to A&E when they don’t need to.

Dr Phil Pue, GP, chief clinical officer for NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG, said: “If patients are taking regular medicines, making sure they have enough stocks to last by getting organised with their repeat prescriptions is essential.”

“This is especially important if we have bad weather which makes it difficult for some of our patients to get out and about. Being prepared could prevent them becoming ill or even avert a medical emergency.”

Health advice, including keeping well over winter, can be found at,NHS website: nhsstaywell.org.