NHS advice to help you prepare for May Bank Holiday weekends
Planning ahead and making the right choices around your health and care will help you make the most of the upcoming Bank Holiday weekends (Monday, 6 May and Monday, 27 May 2024).
Remember to order and collect repeat prescriptions ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekends and note that some pharmacies and most GP surgeries will be closed for some of these periods.
You can order repeat prescriptions in the usual way, but did you know they can also be ordered via the NHS App? The NHS App is available on iOS and Android through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
You can check pharmacy opening times at www.england.nhs.uk/south-east/our-work/pharmacy-opening-hours. The details will be updated in the coming days and may be subject to change.
Pharmacies are now offering a new service, Pharmacy First, under which you can get advice and treatment for a range of common health concerns without having to go to your GP.
Yousaf Ahmad, Frimley ICS Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines Optimisation, said: “Although some pharmacies may be closed on the Bank Holiday Mondays, those that are open can still be a great place to get clinical advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
“Community pharmacists and their teams are qualified and regulated healthcare professionals who can help before things get worse with and provide over-the-counter medicines for minor illnesses. If symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they will ensure you get the help you need.”
NHS services are usually busy over Bank Holidays so if you are physically or mentally unwell, it’s important to choose the right service to make sure you get the best treatment as quickly as possible.
It is worth checking your medicine cabinet to make sure it is well-stocked with essentials such as paracetamol, cough and cold remedies, hay fever medicines, bite and sting treatments, plasters and bandages. You never know, you may even need some sun cream!
If you injure yourself and need urgent care you can visit the Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge, Bracknell, RG12 9RT, no appointment is needed, you can just walk in. You can search for your nearest minor injury unit or urgent care service here:
Find Urgent Care services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
If you are unsure of what service to choose, contact NHS 111 via the phone or online at 111.nhs.uk for all urgent physical or mental health concerns. They can assess your need and direct you to the right service, whether that's an emergency dentist, pharmacist, mental health professional, or the local Minor Injuries Unit.
If your child is unwell, and you’re not sure where the best place to go for advice is, visit the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website or download the app. Designed by local experts, it provides support to parents and carers to help them manage a range of common childhood illnesses https://frimley-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/.
Visit the Your Health pages of this website for further details of local healthcare services.