NHS services available during four-day bank holiday weekend

Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight Clinical Commission Group (CCG) has outlined the range of services that will be available during the jubilee celebrations.

A spokesperson said: "The NHS 111 service will be available around the clock every day.

Many pharmacies will be open during the jubilee celebrations.

"It has been continuously improved and is now available online as well as by phone. Staff can directly book people into GP or Urgent Treatment Centre appointments if they need one, and more than half of all calls now include support from a clinician or clinical advisor.

"Experts in mental health are also on hand to help if needed.

"That continuous improvement means the local 111 phone lines now respond to an average of just over 100 calls an hour, every hour, on average.

"And about eight in ten of calls end up with the caller being directed to care or advice away from Emergency Departments, avoiding wasted time and unnecessary journeys.

"A network of community pharmacies will also be open to make sure everyone can find a local expert in medicines.

"GPs and nurses will be working in ‘out of hours’ services, which can be accessed by the 111 teams, over the four-day break to make sure people who need primary care support urgently can get help.

"Urgent Treatment Centres will be open too, a convenient option for people who need to get help quickly but don’t need the specialised skills of ED staff.

"All that support will be available over all four days, helping to ensure ED staff and ambulance crews can focus on those who are most seriously ill and cannot be treated anywhere else."

DR Nicola Decker.

Dr Nicola Decker, is the clinical lead for Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight CCG.

She said: "The old idea that the NHS wasn’t there for people outside normal office hours is long gone now.

"Over the whole weekend, an army of superb staff will be working across our communities – in 111 teams online and on the phones, in pharmacies, in Urgent Treatment Centres, in out-of-hours services – to keep people safe and well.

“Nobody wants to turn their jubilee into a wait in ED, and if you’re not seriously ill you don’t have to.

“It should be a fantastic weekend and we hope everyone can celebrate safely. But if anyone needs help in a hurry – and it’s not a genuine medical emergency - we have the teams in place to help you out."

Mark Rowell is head of integrated urgent care and NHS 111 services.

He said: "However you are celebrating please take care and ensure you have your medications and support you need for the weekend, ordering medications from your GP ahead of the four day bank holiday weekend.

“If you do need our help please remember to use 111 Online or call 111, we’ll be on hand to provide you with the right advice or call back if you need additional support.”

If you need urgent care but it's not a life-threatening emergency

Contact 111 online for urgent care and trained staff will help you find the service you need or advise you on what to do. They can even book you an appointment slot if you need one so you know exactly when to attend.

Urgent treatment centres are best for minor injuries

For minor injuries or illnesses you’ll be seen quickly, by trained experts, at one of our many urgent treatment centres or minor injuries units for aches, sprains, strains, wound infections and even limb fractures. NHS 111 can even book you in if you contact them first.

There’s no place like home if you’re ready to leave hospital

If you have a loved one or friend in hospital who is ready to come home, you can help by picking them up promptly. A friendly face to ease them home is really important and it also means our hospitals beds can be made available quickly for patients who need them.

Expert help on every high street

Your high street pharmacist is a highly qualified expert who can help you with concerns about minor illnesses, medicines or other wellbeing advice. They can put your mind at rest very quickly, or point you in the direction of someone who can help should you need it.

There are things you can do to help yourself

Keeping some everyday medicines and painkillers in a safe place at home can be really useful for dealing with minor bugs and illnesses like colds, stomach upsets and the occasional hangover. For the conditions you can manage at home, there are some great tips here.

Make use of online help – and contact services online if you can

The NHS has resources online to help you check symptoms and get advice. Try www.nhs.uk for health and medicines advice and Healthier Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk/ if you are concerned about an unwell child.