NHS chiefs plea to patients over bank holiday weekend

NHS officials are reminding patients to think ahead if they need health care advice or services over the bank holiday weekend.

Those with non-emergency health issues are being told that, instead of adding to busy times for A&E departments and ambulance crews, to instead visit a local pharmacy, make a GP appointment or call 111.

People are also being asked to make sure that their medicine cabinet and first aid kits are well stocked and that repeat prescriptions are collected well before the bank holiday weekend.

Speaking on behalf of NHS organisations, Dr Neil O’Brien, who is chair of the Northern Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Forum said: “The public responded brilliantly during the ransomware cyber-attack by using our NHS services wisely, and took our advice thinking twice to use alternative forms of help before attending A&E or calling 999. Our A&E departments and ambulance service can get extremely busy over bank holidays and we want to ensure that patients who really need emergency care receive the quickest possible treatment they need, and that people who can be cared for elsewhere are not waiting in accident and emergency departments.” For local pharmacy opening hours, over the bank holiday period, people are asked to log onto www.urgentoremergency.co.uk/gpopening-times for details.

NHS 111 can also provide advice on other local services such as walk in centres and can directly book GP appointments in some areas so patients will receive the most appropriate care and advice and, in most cases, will be seen quicker than if they go to an A&E department. Parents whohaveunderfivesandneed advice on how to identify and treat common childhood illness are asked to download the free NHS child health app from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.