Thursday 21st April 2011
Patients are being urged to phone their own GP surgery should they need to see a doctor out of hours during the Easter break.
They are also reminded that they can simply call their usual surgery number if they need a GP urgently when their surgery is closed so that they can be directed to the out-of-hours service.
With four Bank Holidays coming up, NHS advisers in Derbyshire recommend that any patient needing a repeat prescription or medicine call into their local surgery or pharmacy in good time.
The call, which is being issued by NHS Derbyshire County and NHS Derby City, comes as local surgeries and the majority of pharmacies confirm they will be shutting on Good Friday, which falls on April 22nd, and on Easter Monday.
There will also be a further Bank Holiday on Friday, April 29th, to mark the wedding of Miss Kate Middleton and HRH Prince William, followed by the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday, May 4th. Surgeries and most pharmacies will close on these days too.
Laura Smith, Urgent Care Manager at NHS Derbyshire County, said: "It's really important that patients use NHS services wisely over the coming Easter period.
"Patients might not be able to get repeat prescriptions or medicines from their local surgery or pharmacy for a few days particularly as there is an additional Bank Holiday this year.
"Although other emergency NHS services will be operating during the Easter and Royal Wedding Bank Holiday period, it's so much easier to pick up your medication now rather than be caught out later when your local surgery or pharmacy is shut.
"Anyone needing to see a doctor out of hours should call their surgery as usual and they will be redirected to an out-of-hours GP."
NHS advisers suggest patients take a practical, organised approach to medication. Top tips include keeping sufficient medication at home and an easily accessible list of regular medication in a safe place, so that if an urgent problem does arise all-important information is at hand.
Out-of-Hours
Out-of-hours services are available when GP surgeries are closed. Typically this is from 6.30pm to 8.00am on weekdays, and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays.
Out of normal GP surgery hours, patients are advised to simply phone their usual surgery number and they will be redirected to the out-of-hours service.
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