Ahead of the early May bank holiday (Monday 6 May), people in the Black Country are being reminded how to access NHS health services.
Due to the bank holiday some services such as GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed or working on a reduced service. Selected pharmacies will still be available for prescriptions, non-urgent medical advice, and treatment of common ailments.
A full list of Black Country pharmacies and opening times can be found online here.
People who need medical help that isn’t an emergency should contact NHS 111 in the first instance by visiting 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.
NHS 111 can help direct people to the most appropriate local health service if they aren’t sure where to go – this could include an out of hours GP, a pharmacy, a local NHS walk-in centre, or a hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department.
Sarb Basi, Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “With the May bank holiday approaching, it’s important that people know what support is available should they need it.
“A number of pharmacies will remain open over the bank holiday weekend and should be your first port of call for any minor illnesses. Local community pharmacists can provide free health advice to support you to self-care and no appointment is necessary.
“If you need urgent medical help over the long weekend, contact NHS 111 in the first instance and they will direct you to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment. As well as being treated more quickly, this will ensure A&E departments can focus on treating people with serious and life-threatening conditions.”
In addition to the early May bank holiday, people are also being encouraged to check their medication supply and start thinking ahead in preparation for the second bank holiday weekend which falls at the end of the month on Monday 27 May.
Sarb Basi added: “It’s important to plan ahead and make sure you’re fully prepared for the bank holiday weekends. There are a number of different things people can do to be ready, for example, collect your repeat prescription in good time, keep your medicine cabinet stocked and know which healthcare services are available to you.”
A&E departments and 999 are there to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions.
