NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG is doing all it can to help residents get the care they need and ease pressures on NHS services this Easter.
The local NHS has arranged for extra GP appointments to be made available over the bank holiday weekend, which will be bookable via 111 online.
Residents are being urged to use 111 online over the Easter bank holiday weekend, so trained advisors will be able to book an appointment with a GP if it is needed.
Nottinghamshire GP and Chair of the Local Medical Committee, Carter Singh said: “I would urge people to use the NHS 111 service this weekend if you have an injury or illness which is not life threatening. Where appropriate, you will be able to be assessed and treated by a healthcare professional rather than having to unnecessarily wait in a busy emergency department.
“If you are unsure which service is most appropriate, visit 111 online or call 111 and they can direct you to the best services for you or they can even make you an appointment. This will help people get the most appropriate care for them in the best setting and may save many people waiting longer than they or we would like.”
Members of the public can help the NHS this Easter by using services wisely:
Using your pharmacy this Easter
Pharmacies can help with things like allergies, constipation, headaches, ear aches and many other ailments. Visit your local pharmacist this Easter if you need help or advice with any of these things.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive, please stay at home and away from others for at least five days (if over 18 or three days if under 18) to avoid passing on the virus. If you feel unwell and need medical advice please use 111 online or call 111.
Vaccination sites are open over the Bank Holiday weekend so if you are eligible, you can drop into one of our sites and get protected. You can book via 119 or on the NHS website and you can find your nearest walk in site on nhs.uk/grab-a-jab
Many pharmacies are open over the bank holiday weekend, you can find opening hours for your local pharmacy over the Bank Holiday Weekend at https://nottm-ccg-archive.ginger-root.co.uk/healthcare/easter-2022-bank-holiday-pharmacy-opening-times/.
Using 111
You can use 111 online first this Easter Bank Holiday if you need health care but it is not life threatening.
Trained advisors at 111 online will be able to advise on the best place for people to go for their needs. 111 online can also arrange for you to have an appointment with the most appropriate professional including a GP over the bank holiday if you need one.
GP appointments
Remember that your GP is open as usual this week up to and including Thursday and then open again as normal on Tuesday next week. During the bank holiday weekend if you use 111 online or call 111 they will be able to book you an appointment with a GP if you need one. The local NHS has arranged for extra GP appointments to be available over the bank holiday weekend to avoid the need for people to go to emergency departments.
Urgent Treatment Centres
As we visit friends and family we know minor accidents can happen. Urgent Treatment Centres on both London Road behind the BBC building in Nottingham (open 7am – 9pm daily) and at Newark Hospital (open 9am – 9:30pm daily) can treat sprains and fractures that happen when falling off a bike or suffering from a burn after getting the Easter simnel cake out of the oven.
Urgent treatment centres are open at least 12 hours a day, every day and offer appointments that can be booked through NHS 111 online. They are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend our emergency departments for, so please consider using them if it is not life threatening.
Residents are also being reminded that if they need medical assistance whilst they are away over Easter they can use 111 online, which will direct them to the best services to use near them.
