The NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside is urging people to know how to access urgent help while their GP practice is closed during the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
For life-threatening emergencies and serious injuries, people should call 999 or go straight to A&E. For all other urgent help, or if you’re not sure what to do, contact NHS 111 by calling 111, visiting 111.nhs.uk or by using the NHS App.
NHS 111 can assess and direct people to the most appropriate local service, including urgent treatment centres, GP practices, and consultations with a pharmacist. If needed it can arrange a call back from a nurse, doctor or paramedic or provide self-treatment advice over the phone. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have a hearing problem, call 18001 111 using the Relay UK app or a textphone. To access the British Sign Language (BSL) video service, go to signvideo.co.uk/nhs111. If you need help in another language, call 111 and ask for an interpreter.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“Health and care services across Cheshire and Merseyside can be very busy during the festive bank holiday period. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to ensure that patients are still able to get the care they need, but everyone can play their part too by making sure they use the right service.
“For medical emergencies where someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should always call 999 or go to A&E. But if you need urgent medical help and you’re not sure where to go, use NHS 111 to get assessed and directed to the right place for you.
“Our local hospitals are also working hard to ensure all patients who are fit to return home for Christmas can do so safely, which will help free up more beds for those who need them. If you have a loved one who is ready to be discharged from hospital, you can assist by helping to get them home as soon as practically possible.”
GP practices will be closed during the Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day bank holidays. Many pharmacies will also be closed or operating on reduced hours. To find your nearest pharmacy and check their opening times, visit www.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
Urgent treatment centres and walk-in centres provide same-day medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Some centres will be operating under reduced hours during the bank holidays. You can search for appointments via NHS 111, or check opening times here.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option to talk to a professional. You can also ring your local 24/7 mental health crisis helpline:
• Liverpool and Sefton (ages 16 and over): 0800 145 6570
• Liverpool and Sefton (under 18s): 0808 196 3550
• Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington (all ages): 0800 051 1508
• Cheshire and Wirral (all ages): 0800 145 6485
If you need urgent dental help or advice, please contact your dentist in the first instance. If your dental practice is closed, or you aren’t registered at one, you can call the local dental helpline for Cheshire and Merseyside on 0161 476 9651.
The NHS App lets you access a range of NHS services, such as managing your repeat prescriptions and viewing your GP health record, straight from your smartphone or tablet. You can download it via Google play or the App store, or access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.
