Do you know what to do if you need medical help during the Jubilee bank holiday weekend?

With two bank holidays coming up next week, health leaders in Bradford District and Craven are reminding people where to go if they need healthcare while their usual GP practice or local pharmacy is closed.

Many common illnesses, such as sore throats and upset stomachs or bruises and sprains, can be treated more quickly by going to an emergency pharmacist or an out-of-hours GP service, which can be accessed through NHS 111, and are both available over the bank holiday weekend.

Dr Louise Clarke, a local GP and strategic clinical director at NHS Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “We hope that everyone enjoys the upcoming Jubilee bank holiday weekend, but if you do need healthcare urgently, please remember that there’s a wide range of NHS services available. While most GP surgeries and some local pharmacies will be closed over the bank holiday weekend, you can still get help through NHS 111 if you think you need medical help urgently or aren’t sure where to go. NHS 111 is available online at 111.nhs.uk – it’s free to use and is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you don’t have access to the internet or are asking about a child under 5, call 111. They will be able to provide you with immediate medical advice and if necessary direct you to the best NHS service for your needs.”

Depending on the situation, NHS 111 can:

• find out what local NHS service can help you
• connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• book a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• give an arrival time if you need to go to A&E – this might mean you spend less time in A&E
• help you speak to someone who can provide mental health support
• arrange for you to pick up medicine at a pharmacy near to you
•   give you advice on how to look after yourself

People are also being encouraged to order their repeat prescriptions ahead of the bank holidays, which can be done using online services and apps for many GP practices. Getting regular prescriptions online can save patients time and avoid unnecessary trips to the GP.

Dr Clarke added: “If you take any prescription medicines regularly, please check that you have enough of them to last over the longer bank holiday weekend. While help will always be available for anyone who runs out of their medication, you can avoid that last-minute panic by checking now. And if you do have enough medicines, please don’t request anymore as it’s important that your local GP practice and pharmacy prioritise prescriptions for people who have run out of their regular medications.”

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists are clinically trained in managing minor ailments and providing health and wellbeing advice, as well as offering over-the-counter medicines for a range of common illnesses. There is no need to book an appointment and many community pharmacies are open until late and at weekends and have private consultation areas where patients can discuss any healthcare issues confidentially.

You can use the NHS find a pharmacy tool to find a pharmacy. Many pharmacies are open over the Jubilee bank holiday and you can find out which ones are open on the CCG webpage – https://www.bradfordcravenccg.nhs.uk/patients/your-health/bank-holiday-pharmacy-opening-times/

Five top healthcare tips for the Jubilee bank holiday weekend:

• Be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home so you can treat bumps and bruises and coughs and colds quickly
• Make sure that you have enough prescription medicines to last over the bank holiday weekend to avoid becoming unwell
• Health advice and information is available online all day and night, every day of the year via the NHS App or the NHS website
• If you are away from home, you can find out how to get help where you are by using the find NHS services tool
• For children’s health advice, you can download the ‘If your child is poorly’ booklet, which covers a wide range of illnesses in children including coughs, colds, constipation and tummy upsets.