Get help over the August 2020 bank holiday

If you or a family member needs urgent advice or medical care over the bank holiday weekend, it’s important that you know where to go.

Members of the public are being urged to make NHS 111 their first point of call for help and advice whilst your GP surgery is closed for the bank holiday on Monday 31st August.

You can visit www.111.nhs.uk, or call NHS 111 for immediate health advice and support 24 hours a day, as well as to access to local GPs out of hours, or for further assistance if you aren’t sure where to go.

In addition, local NHS Walk-in Centres across Liverpool will continue to operate daily between 8am–8pm, including over the bank holiday weekend, but you will need to call them on 0300 100 1004 to pre-arrange an appointment first.

Liverpool’s NHS walk in centres will have an advanced paediatric or general paediatric nurse on duty at each site. This clinical enhancement means regardless of which NHS walk in centre parents and carers are directed to, children will also be seen by a specialist children’s nurse.

Some local pharmacies will also continue to be open over the bank holiday and can offer advice and treatments to manage any minor illnesses or ailments yourself at home. Please check this list of local pharmacies for their exact opening times, but don’t forget that many simple home remedies such as anti-histamines and painkillers are sold in supermarkets too.

Dr Fiona Lemmens, a local GP and Chair of NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation which plans NHS healthcare services across the city said:

“We know that many people continue to need help with lots of different health problems that aren’t to do with coronavirus at the moment, and we really want to encourage people to continue to seek medical advice if they need it – including over the bank holiday weekend.

“Don’t forget that although your usual GP surgery will be closed over the bank holiday, you can still see or speak to a local GP if you need to by calling NHS 111, and there’s also lots of useful support and advice that you can get from a local walk-in centre or pharmacy too.”

People should only call 999 or go to an accident & emergency department when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. This is especially important if you think someone is having a heart attack or stroke – every second counts with these conditions, so act fast!

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or loss of taste – should continue to use the dedicated NHS 111 coronavirus service online at: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 and order a test.