GP and pharmacy access over the holiday

GP practices and pharmacies will remain open across Scotland today and Easter Monday, the Health Secretary has confirmed.

Unwell people will be able to seek treatment for illnesses not related to coronavirus from their GP on the bank holiday days, while pharmacies have also been asked to remain open.

Jeane Freeman said the request was to ease pressure on out-of-hours services over the Easter weekend. She added the Government would be covering the additional costs.

She said: “Given ongoing demand on our NHS, I have taken the unusual step of asking GP practices and community pharmacies to remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday – but only if it is safe to do so.

“Working with the Scottish GP Committee of BMA Scotland, the Scottish Government has agreed an additional

£15 million to help GP practices meet the costs of responding to Covid-19.

“Part of this will help to cover the cost of remaining open on

Good Friday and Easter Monday, and the remainder will help to meet other costs being faced by practices during this difficult time.

“I have also been clear that the Scottish Government will meet any additional costs incurred by community pharmacies to remain open on these bank holidays.”

Patients with suspected coronavirus, including a high temperature, a dry cough or breathing problems, should check the NHS Inform website for advice, and call NHS 24 on 111 if their symptoms worsen or do not improve after seven days.

Ms Freeman’s announcement follows a call from Scotland’s interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith for ill people to still seek medical help, warning that doctors and nurses were finding the lack of non-coronavirus cases “disconcerting”.