Get the right care this spring bank holiday

The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) is reminding people to use NHS services wisely during the spring bank holiday (Monday 27 May), which also coincides with the school summer half-term, when many people may be going on holiday.

People can check the Get in the Know website for LLR, to find out how to get the right care as quickly as possible when they are unwell or injured, with all the information on local services and summer health advice in one place. Visit: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/get-in-the-know/right-now/

Anyone who is going on holiday, or will be away from home this bank holiday and half term, is reminded to take any regular medication and inhalers with them. 

GP practices are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm, excluding bank holidays, which means they will be closed on Monday 27 May, but open as normal on all other days. Many practices open later in the evenings and at weekends. People can check when their practice is open on their website.

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.

For all urgent health needs over the bank holiday, and when GP practices are closed, people are advised to use NHS111 online www.111.nhs.uk or they can phone 111. This service provides self-care advice on common ailments and, if necessary, they can arrange for you to see a nurse or doctor at a local urgent care service.  NHS111 can also be used for emergency repeat prescription guidance and for advice about getting the right care near to wherever you are in the UK.

Local community pharmacists are qualified health professionals and are the right people to see for advice on minor ailments and for over-the-counter medicines. You can find a list of the pharmacies that will be open on bank holiday Monday and their opening times at: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/get-in-the-know/right-now/bank-holiday-pharmacy-opening-times/. 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.

For mental health support, the Central Access Point (CAP), which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, can arrange for you to speak to someone who can assess your needs and provide advice or refer you directly to an appropriate service. In LLR you can contact CAP on 0116 295 3060 and 0808 800 3302.  

The 999 service should only be used for an urgent, life threatening, medical situation, where emergency assistance is required.