Help us to help you this early May Bank Holiday

With the Early May Bank Holiday fast approaching, it is really important that everyone knows what health services are available and when, so that you can help us help you if you or a loved one falls ill.

Help us Help You

In West Lancashire there are a range of health services to support people if they feel unwell or have any health concerns. There are services which you may be unfamiliar with, but could be more appropriate and convenient for you depending on your specific issue.

Pharmacy Services

Several pharmacies will be open on the Bank Holiday Monday and the best way to find out which pharmacy is open and when is to visit the NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) website or visit our Twitter and Facebook pages for on the day updates.

Your local pharmacy can offer free, confidential and expert advice on a range of health issues. They can also help you to self-care and prepare for many common winter illnesses and offer advice on which medicines to keep in stock at home.

Pharmacy opening times on Bank Holiday Monday are below.  Normal opening times apply on other days.

NHS.UK

You can find a wealth of trusted advice about hundreds of health conditions and details of GPs, pharmacies in your local area by visiting www.nhs.uk. This useful website also includes a handy symptom checker.

NHS 111

When you need medical help or advice fast, but it is not a 999 emergency, you can also call the NHS 111 service. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and calls are free from mobiles and landlines. You can also access NHS 111 online, by visiting www.111.nhs.uk.

If you need medical care for illnesses you cannot treat yourself, then your GP should be your next port of call.

Your Local GP

Your GP should be your first point of contact for non-emergency illnesses you can’t treat yourself. A GP will be available from 8.00am to 6.30pm weekdays (local GP practice times may vary). If you don’t have a GP, you can register with your local surgery.

If you’re not sure where this is, you can find out at: www.nhs.uk or call 0300 311 22 33.

In West Lancashire, patients can also now access a GP in the evening and at the weekend, seven days a week, including all bank holidays.

The service is offered from Sandy Lane Health Centre in Skelmersdale, Ormskirk Medical Centre and Burscough Health Centre, and to see all dates, times and services available, please visit the CCG’s website: www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/resources/patient-and-public-information/help-us-help-you

To book an appointment to see a GP in the evening or weekend, simply call your GP practice and make an appointment as you would do normally.

This is a pre-booked service. If you or a loved one falls ill in the evening, when your GP is closed, call freephone NHS 111 or visit your nearest walk-in centre.

GP Out of Hours Service

If your local surgery is closed, you can still see a GP with the GP out-of-hours service; just call 111 and you can speak to a local GP over the phone or face to face if necessary.

It is very likely that you and your family will be seen and treated quickly using the out-of-hours service

Walk-in centres

West Lancashire has two walk-in centres.  The West Lancashire Urgent Care Centre (formally referred to as the West Lancashire Walk-in Centre) in Ormskirk, which is based at Ormskirk Hospital, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, L39 2AZ, and the Skelmersdale Walk-in Centre at The Concourse, Skelmersdale, WN8 6LJ, both of which are open seven days a week, from 8am – 8pm.

The staff within these centres, can treat minor injuries and minor ailments.

To access help, visit the respective centre that you would like to use and speak to the receptionist. Patients can book on the day appointments at the Ormskirk centre by calling NHS 111.

Once you are booked in, you will be seen by a clinician who will decide how urgent your case is and you will be then be seen in priority order.

Dental

For emergency treatment when your dentist is closed, call 0300 1234 010.

Patient Access

Manage your repeat prescriptions and make GP appointments from the comfort of your own home, without having to venture outside, by using the new FREE Patient Access website and smartphone app. Simply search for ‘Patient Access’ in the app store.

Remember though, if using Patient Access for the very first time, you will first have to contact your GP practice so that you can register to use the app.

Dr John Caine, a GP in West Lancashire and chair at NHS West Lancashire CCG, said: “We are reminding people about the services on offer to them such as our Extended Access programme, walk-in centres and pharmacies which will be invaluable during the bank holiday weekend.

“Help is also on hand from the comfort of your home with the NHS 111 and nhs.uk.

“It’s important that we keep GP appointments free for more urgent medical needs.”

For all of the important information you need to stay well this Early May Bank Holiday in West Lancashire visit: www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/resources/patient-and-public-information/help-us-help-you.

For up to the minute information on where to go if you fall ill during the bank holiday, visit the CCG’s website, as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages.