Ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend (Friday 7 April – Monday 10 April), people in the Black Country are being reminded how to access NHS health services.
Due to the bank holidays, some services such as GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed or working on a reduced service.
A full list of Black Country pharmacies and opening times can be found on the NHS website here.
Many GP practices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, however some GP appointments will be available on Saturday 8 April at selected practices across the area. Appointments must be made in advance and to book an appointment, people should contact their GP practice as normal or go to NHS 111 online.
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: “We know that sometimes patients are unsure about what to do if they become unwell during a bank holiday weekend when their GP practice is closed, but we want to let people know that NHS help is still available when you need it.
“If you need to be seen by a health professional face to face, 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.
“A number of pharmacies will be open over the Easter 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. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give expert help on everyday illnesses and answer questions about prescribed and over the counter medicines.”
People are also being reminded to order any repeat prescriptions they may need over the long bank holiday weekend.
Sarb Basi added: “If you take any medicine on a regular basis to help manage a long-term condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, now is the time to check that you have enough medication left to last you over the long weekend. Don’t risk being caught short over the bank holidays when your GP practice will be closed.”
