If you need help over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, NHS 111 and some community pharmacies are available to help. If you suffer a minor injury or illness, NHS 111 is a great place to seek advice to reach the right place for your care. Although your local pharmacy may be closed, there will be a pharmacy open in your area. In a life-threatening situation, you should always call 999 or attend your nearest emergency department.
NHS 111
NHS 111 can now be reached online or via telephone. You can access NHS 111 online at www.111.nhs.uk on a tablet, laptop or mobile, or via the NHS app. NHS 111 will offer advice if you are unsure of where the best place is for your care. This could be an out of hours GP, a pharmacy or an urgent treatment centre. If you are away from home, it will direct you to the most appropriate local service.
Community Pharmacies
Community pharmacists can provide lots of advice about self-care and over the counter medications to treat minor ailments. Pharmacists can also see patients for many common health conditions (sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16-64 years). They may also be able to provide blood pressure checks and contraception services.
The below link will show local pharmacies that are open over the weekend:
Mental Health Support
If you are concerned about your mental health, or feeling as though you are in a mental health crisis and need urgent help, Greater Manchester Mental Health have a 24/7 phone line – 0800 953 0285 which is free of charge. You can also use this service if you are concerned about someone you know.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 999 or attend your nearest emergency department.
If you feel like you need to talk to someone, any time of day or night, you can contact the below free listening services:
- call Samaritans on 116 123
- text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 or text ‘YM’ if you’re under the age of 19
- if you are under 19, you can call Childline on 0800 1111 and the number will not show on your phone bill
Please see the below link for more information on urgent help for mental health:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/
Emergency Dentist
If you don’t have a dentist or you dentist is closed and you need urgent treatment for your teeth, you can contact the Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Care Service on 0333 332 3800, which is open every day 8am-10pm. You can use this service if you have severe swelling and pain that is getting worse, dental trauma (e.g. loss of tooth), severe lockjaw or dental injuries/illnesses that will exacerbate a long term condition such as diabetes.