The NHS has issued a vital warning about medication preparation and knowing where to go if you need urgent help. The advice comes ahead of the long Easter weekend and the next round of junior doctors strikes starting straight after.
The bank holiday and strike period is expected to be 'very busy', according to the NHS. Easter weekend will last from Friday 7 to Monday April 10, followed by a four-day junior doctor industrial strike from April 11 to 14.
Those who take regular medication need to make sure their repeat prescriptions are ordered early from their pharmacist, and ideally no later than today, April 3, ensure they receive their medication ahead of the bank holiday, says the NHS in Greater Manchester. The health service has also given important guidance on how to get help over the long weekend and during the strike days.
NHS Greater Manchester is reminding the public they can get advice and treatment for lots of minor illnesses and ailments from a local pharmacy, without the need for an appointment. Many local pharmacies will still be open over the bank holiday, but some will operate with reduced hours – people can find pharmacy Easter bank holiday opening times here.
Dental support can be accessed via the Greater Manchester dental helpline (0333 332 3800), which is available from 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays for those who need help urgently when their practice is closed, or do not have a regular dentist. Those who need to be seen by a health professional face to face are being asked to go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111, who will help direct them to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment.
Dr Manisha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said: “We want to help people to have fun and make the most of their Easter, while also being aware of the pressures that their local NHS will be facing over the weekend and the following week.
“Running out of your usual medication can have serious consequences, especially if you use them to control heart and breathing problems or a health condition such as diabetes. By stocking up on prescribed medication and being prepared for common illnesses with over-the-counter medicines which your pharmacist can help with – it means you can carry on enjoying the long weekend and not worry about it when there are likely to be disruptions during the industrial action.”
NHS 111 is staffed by a team of trained professionals and clinicians who provide instant over the phone triage and can arrange a face-to-face appointment with an out-of-hours GP, or at a local hospital A&E department if needed, says NHS Greater Manchester. However, the public should still dial 999 as normal in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously injured, or their life is at risk.
Dr Manisha Kumar said: “We want to assure the public that if the unexpected does happen and someone becomes unwell, they can still get urgent help even if their normal GP or dental practice is closed. The advice is really simple for non-emergencies – go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you need any kind of urgent medical treatment over the weekend.
"They can offer lots of helpful advice, and book you an urgent, face-to-face appointment if you need urgent treatment or care too. In the event of a life or limb threatening emergency people should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services.”
Other ways to contact NHS 111 include calling 18001 111 using text relay, 24 hours a day. British sign language (BSL) users can use the NHS 111 video interpreter service by going to www.signvideo.co.uk/nhs111. For help in other languages, please call 111 and ask for an interpreter.
The NHS App can also help people order repeat medications, meaning they do not need to ring or contact their GP practices, and they can receive notifications once their medication is ready to be collected. Once linked it can also do the following:
Book appointments – search for, book and cancel appointments at your GP surgery, and see details of your upcoming and past appointments
View your health record – securely access your GP health record, to see information like your allergies and your current and past medicines. If your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results and details of your consultations
Get your NHS COVID Pass – view and download your COVID Pass for travel abroad. There are also other ways to get your NHS COVID Pass
Register your organ donation decision – choose to donate some or all of your organs and check your registered decision
Find out how the NHS uses your data – choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning
View your NHS number
Even without linking the account, people can get health advice by searching NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments. Answering questions can also receive instant advice or medical help using NHS 111 online.
You can download the NHS App on the app store or on google play. Anyone requiring eye care services should be aware that Greater Manchester’s Urgent Eyecare Services (UES) can help people access free urgent NHS care. Find a local UES optician on www.primaryeyecare.co.uk. If you have any problems accessing CUES, call 111. More information is available at: PE-UES-A5-Leaflet-Web.pdf (primaryeyecare.co.uk).
For more information from the NHS, head here.
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