Latest news with #Beechams
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BGT's Amanda Holden details 'awful' ordeal at home just hours before the live show
BGT's Amanda Holden details 'awful' ordeal at home just hours before the live show Heart Radio host and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden said the incident sparked panic and left her fearing the worst for her beloved dog Minnie Amanda Holden said she was 'all over the place' on BGT Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has opened up about a distressing incident that occurred, just hours before the show went live on last weekend's show. The 54-year-old said she was "all over the place" during the episode, as her dog Minnie was rushed to the vet for an emergency. Recounting the experience on Heart Radio to her co-host Jamie Theakston, she said: "I could hear this sort of rustling noise and I went into the kitchen and there was Minnie, my gorgeous rescue [dog] from Battersea, with a packet of Beechams cold and flu tablets in her mouth, the actual slide. "I had taken a couple of tablets, because I'm a bit under the weather, and I ripped it out of her mouth and I thought there had been at least three left, and there was only one left in the packet." After quickly researching online and discovering the potential fatality of such ingredients as caffeine and paracetamol to dogs, Amanda didn't hesitate to act. "I rushed her in, they took her in, I was in a panic obviously, I was all over the place," she shared. Article continues below "And, the vet Alex, I think he's Italian, he was very serious and he was like 'the next few hours are going to prove very difficult, we're going to need to keep monitoring her and pump her stomach' they had to make her be sick, it was just awful. Amanda Holden with her rescue dog Minnie "Anyway, I didn't sleep, the next day is Britain's Got Talent, I'm absolutely all over the place through all of it." Amanda revealed that before going live on the show, she stopped by the vet to check on Minnie and ended up coming across rescue dogs in need of homes. After resisting the temptation to take them home herself, she chose to help by sharing images of the dogs on her social media. "It broke my heart, as you know I'm a Battersea ambassador for dogs and cats," she said. "I've had over 250,000 hits, and the vets I think has been inundated with people who want to go and visit and see whether they can be the forever home, for either one of these dogs, or both." Issuing a further update on Minnie's condition, Amanda stated she was "right as rain". "She's back at home, she's on liver tablets but to be absolutely honest, we're not even certain now if she took any at all," she admitted. "But, everything was pointing that way and it all sort of died down, anyway, she's well and I just want to say thank you so much to the North Surrey Emergency Vets in East Moseley." Article continues below Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden airs weekdays from 6.30am on Heart Radio.
Local Spain
25-03-2025
- Health
- Local Spain
Six things foreigners often find surprising about pharmacies in Spain
If you're planning on moving to Spain, are new here or are simply visiting, there will be many things to get your ahead around about your new country. If unfortunately you fall ill or you need help filing long-term prescriptions, you'll need to visit a pharmacy, or farmacia in Spanish. There are several ways that pharmacies in Spain may differ from the ones you're used to back home though, from the way the operate to the items available. Here's what you need to know. There are no big chain pharmacies While you'll find several big stores selling cosmetics, shampoos and lotions such as Primor, Druni and Sephora, you won't actually find any big chain pharmacies like Boots in the UK or Walgreens in the US, which sell wide ranges of vitamins, pain killers, cold and flu medicine etc. Even big chain supermarkets in Spain will not have pharmacy sections where you can buy these types of products. If you want any of these items, you'll have to go to a specific individual pharmacy, not a big chain or supermarket. Like in most countries you'll be able to find some pharmacies that are open any time of the day or night you need them. These are known as farmacias de guardia and offer services 24 hours a day. Even if they are not physically open, you will typically be able to ring a bell and someone will come and serve you through the hatch. Like most establishments, most pharmacies also close on Sundays, but these particular farmacias de guardia - typically one per neighbourhood - will stay open. You can't pick medicine up from the shelves yourself in Spain If you're sick somewhere like the UK or the US for example, you'll probably head to your nearest Boots or Walgreens and simply pick up a packet of Advil, Nurofen or Lemsip and Beechams for cold and flu. You can spend time looking at the different products on offer, compare prices and ingredients, but in Spain, even in pharmacies, there are no medicines out on the shelves for you to pick up yourself. Pharmacies only have products such as cosmetics, sunscreens and baby bottles out on the shelves, anything that's considered a medicine, you'll have to ask for. This can be slightly frustrating because you won't know the price of anything until they get it for you, and you can't really look at different options as you don't know what's available. It's all down to what the pharmacist believes you need or if you know the brand you want. But don't worry, pharmacists here are used to being asked lots of questions, so you if you want to compare brands or ingredients in different medicines, they will definitely be able to help you. The main issue may be the language barrier, because you'll have to communicate in Spanish rather than just look on the shelves. It's worth noting though, that pharmacists in many big cities may have some level of English. Spanish pharmacists are highly-trained, and you can go to them for advice The good news is that even if you can't pick up items yourself, pharmacists in Spain can often be your first point of call when you need medical advice and can be used for minor issues instead of going to the doctor. They will also tell you whether or not they think you need to see a doctor. But unlike in the UK, pharmacists in Spain cannot issue prescriptions, so if you need a type of medicine which you need a doctor's authorisation for, you'll still have to make an appointment. Spanish pharmacies can be more expensive for everyday items Brands in Spanish pharmacies tend to be on the expensive side, particularly for things like supplements, cold meds and vitamins. You can't just pick up a cheap Boots-own brand bottle of vitamin C, so you may be shocked at how much things cost in pharmacies here. Having said that, if you actually have a prescription for medicine from your doctor, this is highly subsidised by the government and can be very inexpensive. This means most prescription meds are definitely cheaper than countries with private healthcare systems like the US. Some pharmacies in Spain look more like museums There are many pharmacies in Spain that have been going for years, even over a century, and still look like old apothecary shops with the antique ceramic jars, old wooden cabinets and even vintage signage. They look almost like museums stuck in time, even though they're modern working pharmacies. Today, these historic decorative elements are mostly for show, medicines come in sealed boxes and packets rather than directly from these jars and mini drawers.
