With the August bank holiday weekend fast approaching, Leeds health professionals are reminding residents to plan ahead to stay well.
Patients with long-term conditions are being asked to make sure they have enough medicines available to cover the bank holiday period.
Dr Gordon Sinclair, GP at Burton Croft Surgery in Headingley and Clinical Chair at NHS Leeds CCG, says: “If you have a long-term condition and require medication for this, it is important to plan ahead by making sure you have enough medication to cover you over the long bank holiday weekend.
It is also important that you keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet so you are able to treat most minor illnesses at home. If you become unwell over the bank holiday weekend you can visit your pharmacist. They are qualified healthcare professionals offering expert clinical advice.”
It is also important to plan ahead if you are going on holiday. Some things to check are:
- The latest health and safety advice for the country you’re travelling to
- That you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date
- Having a kit of health travel essentials which might include sunscreen, painkillers and antiseptic
- Having the right medical insurance
- Make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if travelling in Europe
If you become unwell over the bank holiday weekend, pharmacists can offer advice on common ailments such as coughs and cold, an upset stomach, strains and sprains or bites and stings.
If you need a GP appointment, please call NHS 111 and a fully trained advisor will be able to book you into your local extended access hub open on those days.
You can also call your GP practice as normal. If your practice is closed you’ll hear a recorded message advising you how to access appointments out of hours or over the bank holiday weekend. These will need to be pre-booked.
You can also call NHS 111 if you need medical help fast but it is not an emergency. This helps the local NHS keep emergency services free for those that need them the most.
To find a pharmacy open on the bank holiday Monday, please visit: https://www.leedsccg.nhs.uk/health/services/feeling-unwell/