How you can access healthcare services over Christmas and New Year

Residents across Glossop and Tameside feeling unwell over Christmas and New Year will still be able to access healthcare services when their GP practice is closed. 

A list of pharmacy opening times in Glossop and Tameside has been released by Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group, which covers the main bank holidays - Friday 25 December (Christmas Day), Monday 28 December (substitute for Boxing Day) and Friday 1 January (New Year’s Day).

Pharmacies will also be open on Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve), Saturday 26 December and Thursday 31 December (New Year’s Eve), unless the pharmacy has notified a change of supplementary hours. People can check the NHS website www.nhs.uk for more details. 

As qualified professionals, pharmacists are experts in medicines and can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as cough, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains. People can speak to a pharmacist in confidence, in a private area, about the most personal symptoms, and should telephone their usual pharmacy before travelling as opening times may vary over the bank holidays.

Some pharmacies are providing a delivery service for residents who have no support. People are encouraged to reduce the demand and pressure on the service if they are feeling unwell and self-isolating by asking friends, relatives or neighbours to collect their medicines in the first instance. 

Anyone with a health condition that cannot be treated by a pharmacist should call NHS 111 or go online https://111.nhs.uk/, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Prior to the bank holidays, patients who need to contact their GP practice should visit the practice website to complete a confidential online consultation for non-urgent health needs, to receive a response before the end of the next working day, or call to discuss a face-to-face or virtual (telephone or video) appointment. Alternatively, contact NHS 111.

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, is advised not to visit their GP practice, pharmacy or hospital. People should self-isolate for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started and get a test immediately, so that it’s within five days of being symptomatic. To book a test or order a home testing kit, go online www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or telephone 119. 

Dr Asad Ali, Co-Chair at NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “When GP practices are closed, patients who have had a clinical assessment via 111 and are deemed to require urgent but not life-threatening assistance may be offered an appointment at one of the neighbourhood hubs.”

For a full list of pharmacy opening times, the pharmacy delivery service, primary care services plus access to other healthcare services including emergency support, visit https://www.tamesideandglossopccg.org/accessingcare