Doctors’ surgeries and community pharmacies – Easter arrangements in North Yorkshire

GP practices in North Yorkshire are refining their opening hours over the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend to ensure help is available for those who need it during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic – while encouraging people who are well to “Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives”.

Primary Care – Many doctors’ surgeries would ordinarily be closed from Good Friday through Easter Monday, but with the UK lockdown continuing health leaders in North Yorkshire want to ensure people continue to have access to health services if they become unwell and are in need of medical attention.

Most practices will be open as usual on Friday and Monday, but some will be working together as a hub. If you require primary care services on the Bank Holidays during ‘normal’ practice opening times, ring your surgery on the day or visit their website.

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) would urge people to only contact their practice on Friday and Monday if they have an urgent healthcare need not related to COVID-19. They should not visit their surgery face-to-face unless they have been specifically asked to do so.

On Saturday and Sunday usual weekend provisions will be in place and patients are asked to contact NHS 111 in the first instance if they are unwell and they will be directed to the most appropriate service.

Community pharmacies will be open for a minimum of three hours on Good Friday and Easter Monday (2pm to 5pm) with some pharmacies open longer.

Opening times on Saturday (11 April) will be the same as normal and for Sunday (12 April) will be the same as any normal Easter Sunday.

Please order your usual prescription online through the NHS App. Do not go to your pharmacy to order prescriptions and only phone them if you cannot order online or via the app. You can order repeat prescriptions on the NHS App and through your GP surgery website, where available. You can find out about ordering medicines online at www.nhs.uk.

NHS guidance – If you have COVID-19 symptoms you can find NHS guidance online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. If you need medical advice related to COVID-19 contact NHS 111 in the first instance using the online service: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 and only use the phone service if you are unable to access the internet.

NHS North Yorkshire CCG Clinical Chair, Dr Charles Parker, said: “GP surgeries are working tirelessly in difficult circumstances to keep people healthy and well, while treating those who are poorly.

“An enormous effort is going into helping the NHS deal with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but we recognise other illnesses and long-term conditions don’t suddenly go away and it’s vital everyone has access to the appropriate help and support, particularly at this immensely difficult time.”