How Newark and Sherwood residents should access healthcare this bank holiday weekend

Health and care organisations across Nottinghamshire will be doing all they can to help residents get the care they need and ease pressures on NHS over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG has arranged for extra general practice appointments to be made available over the weekend, which will be bookable via 111 online.

Residents are being urged to use 111 online with trained advisors able to book an appointment with a GP if it is needed.

Pauline Hand, managing director of NHS 111 for the local area, said: “We would urge people to use 111 online for advice or call 111 if you need to speak to a health advisor with an urgent medical problem and you are not sure where the best place would be to get treatment for your concern.

“Our website and health advisors can help you to get a GP appointment, direct you to an Urgent Treatment Centre or your nearest available A&E and pharmacy, they can also advise you on the best course of self-care if you have a mild illness, rash, or infection.

“The recent bank holidays saw almost a fifth of calls to 111 relating to repeat prescriptions so we would urge anyone needing medication over the jubilee weekend to order their repeat prescriptions now through their general practice, pharmacy or NHS App.

"This will ensure you have enough of the right medicine well ahead of the weekend, enabling you to enjoy your weekend in the best of health.”

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire residents can also make use of the NHS App for access to a wide range of services and information, meaning they don’t necessarily need to call their practice or wait on the telephone for an appointment.

It can also save users time and avoid potentially travelling to their surgery when they could perform an action or receive advice digitally.

Via the NHS App, residents can access their medical records, manage appointments, review medication and order repeat prescriptions, as well as check symptoms and track their own health.

Alexis Farrow, programme director for Digital Notts, said: “You can use the NHS App for a range of things such as getting access to trusted medical information, ordering repeat prescriptions, getting health advice by directly messaging your general practice, and managing appointments.

“Residents in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can also gain further access to their records, including results of tests and consultations by registering with Patients Know Best within the NHS App. You can also answer questions through the 111 function on the NHS App to find out which medical service is most appropriate to use, without the need to speak on the telephone.”

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.

Members of the public can also help ease pressures by using their local pharmacy.

Pharmacist Robert Severn said: “Pharmacies can help with things like allergies, constipation, headaches, ear aches and many other ailments. We are here to help and are happy to advise on any of these things. Please visit your local pharmacy to get advice.

"Remember that it is a four-day bank holiday from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5, so please also remember to order your prescriptions in time for any medication you may need.”

Clinical leader at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG Dr James Hopkinson said: “We know it is difficult for people if they feel ill over the bank holiday and don’t know where to turn, which is why we are advising people to visit 111 online or call 111 if they are unsure, as they will be able to advise you or even put you in touch with a medical specialist who can help.

“I would like to thank colleagues across the system who are working this bank holiday. We are all pulling together to make sure that we are providing the best possible care for our patients in a timely way and we would urge people to use 111, use their pharmacy or visit their urgent treatment centre if urgent but not life-threatening to ensure they get the best and most timely care possible this weekend.”

For minor accidents like sprains and fractures, go to Newark Hospital (open 9am to 9.30pm).

Partners across the Integrated Care System are also working closely together to ensure timely discharges of people who no longer need to be in hospital.