Healthcare services over a bank holiday

On bank holidays, NHS services may be closed or have different opening times. This page goes through what to do and where to go if you need medical help over a bank holiday weekend.

At home treatment

For those minor injuries and illnesses, you should keep a selection of medication and essential items at home at all times.

Pain relief and fever reducers

• Paracetamol: Effective for pain relief and reducing fever.
• Ibuprofen: Useful for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and fever.

Cold and flu treatments

• Decongestants: Help to relieve a blocked nose.
• Cough syrup: Choose based on whether you have a dry or chesty cough.
• Throat lozenges or sprays: Soothe a sore throat.
• Vapour rub: Helps to ease nasal congestion and soothe a cough.

Digestive aids

• Antacids: Relieve indigestion and heartburn.
• Antidiarrhoeal medication: Helps to manage diarrhoea.
• Oral rehydration salts: Useful for rehydration after diarrhoea or vomiting.

First aid supplies

• Plasters and bandages: For minor cuts and injuries.
• Antiseptic cream or spray: Prevents infection in cuts and grazes.
• Thermometer: To monitor body temperature accurately.
• Tweezers: Useful for removing splinters.

Miscellaneous items

• Moisturiser: Prevents and treats dry skin.
• Lip balm: Protects against chapped lips.
• Hand sanitiser: Helps to prevent the spread of germs.
• Saline nasal spray: Helps to keep nasal passages clear.

When taking any medication, you should always read the label and take them as directed. If you have any questions of concerns about medication, then speak to your pharmacist.

Repeat prescriptions

Every bank holiday, NHS 111 sees an increase in people getting in touch about repeat prescriptions.

Please remember to order any repeat prescription medication that you need ahead of time. Try to order your prescription seven days in advance to make sure there’s plenty of time to organise your medication.

If you are going away, please don’t forget to take your medications with you.

Think Pharmacy First

Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get clinical advice on minor health concerns – you don’t need an appointment and you can be seen in a private consultation room if you prefer.

Your local pharmacy can help with minor illnesses like coughs, colds and red eye. Your local pharmacist can also provide some prescription medicines for certain conditions, in needed, without a GP appointment. You can get care directly from a pharmacist for conditions including earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women ages 16-64 from local pharmacies.

Pharmacies are open late, on weekends and during bank holidays with no appointment needed. They can also signpost you to your GP, A&E or other relevant local service, where necessary.

NHS 111

NHS 111 is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for urgent health concerns, giving you advice and reassurance without needing to leave your home.

111.NHS.UK can direct patients to the most appropriate service to meet their needs. If needed a healthcare professional will call you back.

Accessing dental services

If you think you need urgent dental treatment over the bank holiday weekend, contact your usual dentist. If you can’t or you don’t have one, 111.nhs.uk.

If an urgent appointment is needed, you will be provided with details of your local out of hours service.

Remember you can get the answers to hundreds of health questions, including seasonal advice via www.nhs.uk.

Mental health

Adults experiencing a mental health crisis, can speak to a mental health professional anytime, day or night, by calling NHS 111 and selecting the option for mental health. Call 0800 995 1000 for under 18s who need urgent mental health support.

NHS App

The NHS App provides a simple and secure way to access a wide range of services on a smartphone or tablet. It offers access to certain NHS services online.

For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, visit the NHS website:

Remember, if it is a life-threatening emergency or if you are concerned about an immediate risk of harm, either to yourself or someone else, please phone 999.

Guide to local health services over bank holiday weekends

We have produced a guide to local health services over the bank holiday weekends which you can download. This is updated ahead of each bank holiday and can be printed so you have it at hand as and when you need it: