Health leaders in Bath are renewing their calls for residents to choose the right health care options over the upcoming May bank holiday weekends.
Photo courtesy of the RUH
The long weekends, during which many GP practices and pharmacies will close for longer than usual, are expected to add extra pressure to the region’s already-busy health and care services.
Over the recent Easter break, urgent and emergency care teams saw a rise in people coming forward for on-the-day help, with many patients attending for conditions that could have been treated quickly and effectively away from hospital.
Staff supporting those making calls to NHS 111 also saw a spike in the number of people asking for urgent prescriptions, having used up the last of their existing medication.
To help ease the pressure this weekend, people are asked to:
- Familiarise themselves with the various health and care services available over the bank holiday, details of which are available at www.bswtogether.org.uk/yourhealth
- Replenish any vital medicines to ensure sufficient supplies
- Take precautionary steps to enjoy the warmer, sunny weather safely
Gill May, Chief Nurse Officer, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The support of our local communities is vital during times of increased pressure, when access to some local NHS services is limited.
“We ask, as we have done on previous occasions, that local people get behind their NHS and do whatever they can to help reduce the footfall at our hospitals and urgent care centres, all of which will be focussed on providing support to those most in need.
“And with the weather expected to be much warmer than usual, we kindly remind people to enjoy the sun sensibly by staying hydrated, sticking to the shade wherever possible and always wearing sun cream when spending time outdoors.”
Most pharmacies will be closed on Monday 5th and Monday 26th May, with only a few select sites staying open, usually with shortened operating hours.
Opening hours for all pharmacies are available via the Find a Pharmacy tool on the NHS website, which can be reached at www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.
People whose nearest pharmacy is closed on the bank holidays can find similar support from NHS 111 online, which can provide advice and information based on a person’s specific symptoms, while also recommending treatment options and, where necessary, referring patients to nearby in-person services.
NHS 111 online can be accessed for free from any laptop, tablet or smartphone by visiting www.111.nhs.uk.
