The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) has published advice about how to use NHS services over the Christmas and New Year period, including their five top tips that everyone should know to get the right care as quickly as possible over the festive period.
NHS 111, urgent care services, pharmacies and neighbourhood mental health cafes are among the local options for people when GP practices are closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26th December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1st January).
Dr Nil Sanganee,Chief Medical Officer for NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland said: “There are health service options that people can use every day across the Christmas and New Year period, including when your GP practice is closed. It is especially important for people to come forward to receive care when they need it, to avoid problems becoming more serious. They can use NHS 111 or go to an urgent care service for urgent health matters. Pharmacies can advise what to do for minor and common illnesses, with some pharmacies opening on bank holidays. There are neighbourhood mental health cafes to support people with their mental health and wellbeing, while those in a mental health crisis can call NHS 111 and press option 2.”
Five top tips
- Use NHS 111 when it’s urgent: Use NHS 111 for any urgent healthcare needs, when your GP practice is closed, to get the right care for you. Call, go online or use the NHS App. Choose option 2 over the phone for mental health crises.
- Check out the urgent care services near you: You can use many urgent care services without an appointment every day across the festive period. Use NHS 111 to make sure it’s the right place for you and for appointments.
- Some pharmacies are open on bank holidays: For support with common illnesses get advice and medication from a local pharmacy. Many can also prescribe prescription medication for some conditions without you needing to see a GP first.
- Get support with your mental health and wellbeing at a neighbourhood mental health café. There are Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés spread around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, run by trained and supportive staff, who are there to listen and provide the practical support when you need it most.
- Get in the know, before you need to know: Find out about the local healthcare options in advance, so you can get the right care for you, more quickly, when you do need it. For more detailed advice, all in one place, visit www.getintheknow.co.uk
Professor Damian Roland, Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care System said: “It is important that people are treated in the right part of the NHS for their particular health problem, which will ultimately help everyone in our local communities get the care they need as quickly as possible. By following the NHS’ advice, it will make a real difference.
“NHS services are much busier than normal in the winter and particularly so over the festive period. You can help further by avoiding putting the NHS under any unnecessary pressure by enjoying the festive period safely. To limit the spread of winter bugs, in the community and in our healthcare settings, please minimise contact with others if you are unwell and wash your hands and clean surfaces regularly. If you have a health condition do keep up with any self-monitoring, take your medication as prescribed and try to avoid anything that could trigger a flare-up throughout the festive period.”
Order your repeat prescriptions
Anyone who takes prescribed medication regularly is asked to get prepared and make sure they have enough to last well into the New Year. Any repeat prescriptions need to be ordered by around Wednesday 18th December to ensure GP practices and pharmacies have time to process the requests before Christmas. Last minute requests put a strain on services and you risk not being able to get hold of your medication. You can order repeat prescriptions using the NHS App, through an online service offered by your GP practice or by contacting your GP practice directly.
Get support to treat minor illnesses yourself
People who are generally in good health, can treat viruses such as coughs, colds, and sore throats themselves with advice from a local pharmacy, NHS 111 online or the NHS App. Local community pharmacists are qualified health professionals and can give advice on a range of health problems. If they think you need to see a doctor or other health professional, they can adviseyou on how to get further support. Under the Pharmacy First scheme, many pharmacies can also now offer treatment and prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP.
Bank holiday opening times for pharmacies in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be available at: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/get-in-the-know/right-now/bank-holiday-pharmacy-opening-times/
GP practices
GP practices’ normal opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, excluding bank holidays, which means they will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26th December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1st January). Normal service will resume on Tuesday 2nd January.
Where they can, people are encouraged to use the NHS App to make requests from their GP practice at a convenient time for them. It can be used to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view their health record and hospital correspondence.
If you need urgent help
Anyone who has an urgent care need should seek help straight away. If your GP practice is closed, you can contact NHS 111 online, by phone or via the NHS App at any time, day or night. They will review your symptoms and will refer you to the most appropriate service based on your needs. They can even book an appointment or arrival time at local urgent care services to keep your waiting time to a minimum.
You can use many urgent care services without an appointment, but you are advised to use NHS 111 to make sure it is the right place for you and to keep your waiting time down. To find out more about the urgent care services available locally, visit: https://bit.ly/LLRUrgentCare.
The 999 service and hospital emergency departments should only be used for an urgent, life threatening, medical situation, where emergency assistance is required.
Mental health support
In a mental health crisis, urgent mental health support is available over the phone by calling NHS 111 and selecting option 2 for mental health.
Help is also available from Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes. To find out what is open and when, please visit https://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/service/neighbourhood-mh-cafes/.
Healthcare when away from home
Many people will travel to visit family and friends over the festive period. If you are unwell when away from home in the UK, your own GP practice should still be your first port of call, on days when they are open. They will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations and arrange for prescriptions to be sent to any pharmacy you choose. You can also use NHS 111 for urgent care options near to where you are.
Children’s health options
Parents can get support about the best course of action if their child is unwell by checking out two new online information hubs which contain a wealth of advice, including a Parents’ Stay Well Guide for children aged 0-9. Visit https://bit.ly/WinterHealth0-5 for advice about children aged 0-5 and https://bit.ly/H4KWinter for children aged 5 and over.
Get in the know about which service to use
‘Get in the Know’ is an ongoing campaign which aims to support people across LLR to get the
right care as quickly as possible. The campaign website www.getintheknow.co.uk explains more about how to use NHS services, including over the festive period.
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