Keeping yourself well this Easter Bank Holiday weekend
25th March 2024
This Easter Bank Holiday follows a 96-hour period of Industrial Action by junior doctors. During the bank holiday weekend, your GP practice, as well as some primary care services, will be closed for four days.
If you need healthcare services this Easter weekend, this article will provide you with all the information you will need to access services appropriately this bank holiday.
Pharmacy Opening Times
Your community pharmacist’s opening times may change over the extended bank holiday, please ensure you familiarise yourself with these. You can find your local Community Pharmacist's opening times by clicking here.
Stock up your first-aid kit
Most minor illnesses and injuries can be treated at home or on the go. Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit on hand can help to treat any minor cuts, scrapes, bumps or illnesses quickly and easily.
Your first aid kit should contain alcohol wipes, plasters, bandages, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic cream, painkillers, and antihistamines amongst other things. This NHS website contains all the information you’ll need for stocking a first aid kid.
Getting away? We’re still here for you
Wherever you’re spending the bank holiday break in Wales, if you need to access healthcare information, advice or urgent care support, NHS 111 Wales is available.
Access a range of healthcare advice and local information on the NHS 111 Wales website, or speak to a call handler for urgent health advice and access to urgent out-of-hours care.
Know your Primary Choice
Your Primary Care team is your first point of contact for health care and is made up of your GP, community pharmacy, dental and optometry (eye health) services. Knowing who to see for the best advice at the right time can help to ensure you get the most appropriate treatment as quickly as possible, so you can get back to enjoying your break.
Click here to meet your Primary Care team and understand who your Primary Choice is.
If you do need to be seen at the Emergency Unit or Minor Injuries Unit
If you, or someone you know experiences an injury or illness over the bank holiday weekend, and it is urgent, but not life-threatening, please call 111 for access to urgent care out-of-hours or the Minor Injuries Unit.
A call handler will assess your condition and, if appropriate, a CAV 24/7 clinician will call you back. If the clinician thinks that you require further assessment, you will be given a timeslot to attend the most appropriate service.
Please remember that 999 is still available to you in a serious or life-threatening emergency.
Drink aware
If you are enjoying the bank holiday with alcohol, it is important to know your limits. It is recommended that adults should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
Drink alcohol in moderation, keep yourself hydrated and know your limits, this can help to alleviate the immediate risks of heavy drinking.