16 August 2024

The late summer bank holiday is approaching on Monday 26 August and NHS Greater Manchester have some top tips to help keep you and your family healthy over the long weekend:

 

  • Check your medication and order what you need from your repeat prescriptions in plenty of time before the bank holiday. GP practices and pharmacies will have reduced opening hours so it’s important to leave enough time for your surgery to process a repeat prescription and for a pharmacy to dispense it.
  • Stock up your medicine cabinet. You can treat many minor illnesses and injuries with over-the-counter medicine, so make sure you have all the essentials such as pain killers, plasters, and antihistamines.
  • Prepare for hot weather. If the sun comes out and temperatures rise, keep your family hydrated by drinking water, apply sunscreen regularly and spend time in the shade.
  • Make a note of the address of your nearest pharmacy and its bank holiday opening times, which may be different to normal opening hours. Your local pharmacy is a great source of expert advice on a range of minor illnesses. Check which pharmacies are open in your local area. 
  • It is really important people do not delay seeking help from the NHS if they feel unwell, and using the right NHS service means you get the right treatment sooner. Visit 111.nhs.uk to get to know where to go.
  • Call 999 or go to A&E only if there is a medical emergency, where someone is seriously injured, or their life is at risk.

 

The bank holiday is great opportunity to go on a trip away, spend some quality time with family or catch up on some much-needed rest, but it can also be stressful or lonely for some. There are NHS services to support you through challenging times including local food banks if you’re struggling with food bills, and mental health helplines if you need to talk. Visit Get to Know Where to Go to find out more.

Dr Manisha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said: “Hopefully we are all looking forward to a sunny bank holiday but it’s important we keep ourselves and family members safe.

“Bank holidays can be a busy time for the NHS, and our Get to Know Where to Go campaign is designed to help people find the care and support they need as quickly as possible.

“Don’t let minor illness spoil the fun, do order your repeat prescriptions in good time and top up your medicine kit at home. Pharmacists are your local medical experts so go to them for advice for minor health conditions including earache, sore throats, and urinary tract infections.

“I’m sure we all have our fingers crossed for some hot weather. We want everyone to enjoy the sun safely, so remember to stay cool in hot weather by drinking lots of fluids, wear light clothing, and staying in the shade. Our elderly and more vulnerable family members are more susceptible to dehydration in hot weather so remind them to drink water throughout the day. Apply sunscreen every few hours, especially after being in water, and limit outdoor exercise in the sun to avoid overheating.

“NHS Greater Manchester have some great services on hand to make sure we are well prepared for anything summer throws at us. So, get to know where to go for the care you may need this bank holiday.”

 

Your ‘just in case’ bank holiday contact list:

Return to Latest news