NHS’ Easter weekend plea
The NHS across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are urging local people to find out about NHS services open over the long Easter weekend, and use A&E for genuine emergencies only.
Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and beyond, it’s essential that local people use the right NHS service for their illness or injury, ensuring A&E can help the people who need it most. There are lots of NHS services open and available to local people during the long weekend, such minor injury units, urgent treatment centres, pharmacies and NHS 111.
Dr Fiona Head, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB, said, “ A&E is for accidents and emergencies. It is crucial people choose the right health service to ensure A&E is kept free for those who really need it. If you’re unsure which NHS service can help you, visit 111 online which can help you or phone 111."
"It might feel like A&E is your only choice when it’s a bank holiday weekend, but using A&E when you don’t need to it means that patients who do need A&E wait longer and your own wait can be very long wait if your problem isn’t medically urgent”
Here is what’s open in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend:
- NHS 111: If you need urgent medical support over the Easter weekend, think 111 First. NHS 111 is available online 24/7 at 111.nhs.uk and on the phone. And if you need urgent care, they will book you in to be seen quickly and safely. This could be with a GP, Urgent Treatment Centre or even at A&E; whatever is the most appropriate care for you.
- Pharmacies: Can help with a range of things including hangovers, hayfever, colds, emergency contraception, stomach upsets, bites and stings. The new Pharmacy First scheme means that pharmacists can offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP. These conditions include earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years). See how pharmacies can help for more information. Also some pharmacies will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday with some pharmacies will also be open on Easter Sunday.
- Minor Injury Units (MIU) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC): Can help with a range of minor illnesses and injuries such as sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings. The following are open over the Easter weekend:
- Peterborough Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), Peterborough City Hospital, Edith Cavell Campus, PE3 9GZ. Open every day, including bank holidays from 8am-8pm.
- Ely Minor Injury Unit, Princess of Wales Hospital, Lynn Road, Ely, CB6 1DN. Open every day from 8.30am to 6pm. X-ray services available 1pm-4.45pm on weekends and bank holidays.
- Doddington Minor Injury Unit, Doddington Hospital, Benwick Road, PE15 0UG. Open 9am-5pm weekends and bank holidays; no x-ray service available.
- Mental health services: If you are feeling worried about your mental health there are number of services available, from online support at www.keep-your-head.com to Lifeline helpline. If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 111 and select the mental health option for urgent support with trained advisors.