Keeping safe over the bank holiday weekend

The late summer bank holiday weekend is on the horizon, which means a lot of health services in Lancashire and South Cumbria will be operating on different opening hours to normal.

Most pharmacies and GP practices will be closed throughout the weekend and on Monday 31 August, which makes planning ahead and being aware of your options important.

Bank holiday weekends typically see an increase in people contacting the NHS 111 service for emergency prescriptions because they are running out of medication. To avoid any shortages, stock up on the medication you need before the weekend, and familiarise yourself with which pharmacies will be open in your area – see the ICB website here for a full list of opening hours.

Keeping your medicine cabinet stocked up, with things like paracetamol, ibuprofen, anti-diarrhoea tablets, oral rehydration salts, cough and cold medicine, antihistamines, and indigestion medicine will ensure you can make the most of the holidays without worrying where to access a pharmacy.

Over the bank holiday, all urgent and emergency care services will be open. The public should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency. For non-emergency health advice the public can contact 111.nhs.uk or call 111.