Local pharmacies may have different opening hours over the bank holiday weekend
The bank holiday on August 25 will see many GP surgeries closed and different opening hours in local pharmacies across England and Wales. The public has been urged to be proactive about their health and plan ahead.
In a post on X, the NHS said: “Some local pharmacies may have different opening hours over the bank holiday weekend. To find an open pharmacy near you, visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy”.
However, pharmacy opening times could still change, so customers are advised to ring their local pharmacy before visiting to confirm they are open on Monday. Some GP services might be available over the bank holiday weekend, according to the health service.
Those needing routine advice or prescriptions are encouraged to plan ahead and get their medications before the weekend kicks off. The NHS in Sussex also recommended parents ensure their medicine cupboard is well-stocked for common ailments that might crop up over the weekend like seasonal illnesses or minor injuries.
If you run out of your prescription medication over the weekend, you might need to complete an emergency prescription request. This is for situations where you’ve completely run out of a medication and need a limited emergency supply to tide you over until you can get your usual prescription filled.
You will be asked to pay the standard prescription fee, if applicable, but this service can’t be used to obtain antibiotics for a new or recent issue or controlled drugs that require identification for collection. You can complete an emergency prescription request online or by ringing 111.
The 111 helpline experiences a spike in calls every bank holiday. In 2024, the August summer bank holiday saw a whopping 17,250 calls made to the North West NHS 111 service alone.
Out of these, 2,357 were for repeat prescriptions. The service also noted a surge of a thousand more people ringing for emergency repeat prescriptions than the previous week.
Karen O’Brien MBE, regional chief pharmacist for NHS England in the North West, advised: “Keeping your medicine cabinets stocked, knowing when your GP practice and community pharmacy is open, and planning ahead for repeat prescriptions that are due will ensure you can make the most of the bank holiday weekend.
“Running out of your usual medication can have serious consequences, especially if you use them to control a heart condition, breathing problems, or have a health condition such as diabetes. We also recommend people check what medicines they have and only order what is needed.”
Emergency and urgent care services in the NHS should function as usual over the bank holiday weekend, although some GP services may be closed or have modified operating hours. People are still urged to dial 999 or head to A&E for severe medical emergencies.
Your local pharmacist can also offer advice and treatment for a variety of minor conditions, eliminating the need to see your GP in some cases. This includes ailments such as sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites and stings, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated UTIs.