Follow the advice given in the ‘3 before GP’ campaign, which Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group is backing:

1. Self-care – You can safely treat the symptoms of many minor ailments at home, with rest and over-the-counter medicines.

2. Use trusted NHS online services - The NHS Choices website offers advice on a range of health issues and is a useful place to turn for guidance. Another resource on offer in B&NES is the paediatric HANDiApp. It’s free to download to smartphones and tablets and contains expert advice about the most common childhood illnesses, as well as lots of specific advice about how common ailments can be treated at home.

3. Ask your pharmacist – Pharmacists are an excellent source of health advice, particularly about long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment to see them and many have private consultation areas. Your pharmacist will tell you if you need further medical attention.

If you have followed the three steps above and still need medical help:

4. Call: 111 – If your GP surgery is closed and you’re not sure where to go then you should make a free phone call to NHS 111, which is available 24/7. An adviser will ask questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need or direct you to the best service for you in your area. If required, the adviser will book you an appointment with your nearest GP out-of-hours service

5. Emergency departments and 999 are for life-threatening emergencies – Emergency departments and the ambulance service are for life-threatening emergencies and accidents including; loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. Emergency departments are likely to be extremely busy over the bank holiday weekend with long waiting times, so please call NHS 111 for advice first if you are not sure where to go.

GP Practice Opening Times – All 25 GP practices in B&NES will be closed on Monday 28 May 2018. Please follow one of the steps above if you need medical attention.

Monday 28 May 2018:

Lloyds Pharmacy, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DD Tel: 01761 413251 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Boots, 33-35 Westgate, Bath, BA1 1EL Tel: 01225 482069 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Lloyds Pharmacy, Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath, BA1 2DR Tel: 01225 332046 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lifestyle Pharmacy, 15 Westgate Street, Bath, BA1 1BE Tel: 01225 465576 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Boots, 1 Newark Street, Southgate, Bath, BA1 1AT Tel: 01225 461251 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Keynsham Pharmacy, 15 Station Road, Keynsham, BS31 2BH Tel: 01173 294355 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.