With many GP surgeries closed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, how can you ensure you are seen by the right person, in the right place, at the right time?

Bath and North East Somerset's Urgent Care Centre, located next to the Emergency Department at the Royal United Hospital in Bath (the RUH), is preparing to celebrate its first birthday having helped over 33,000 patients since it opened to the public on 1st April 2014.

The Urgent Care Centre provides a 24/7 service staffed by GPs and Nurse Practitioners that offers urgent treatment for patients who cannot wait to be seen by their local GP or are not registered with a local practice. Following a very busy winter for NHS services, the Urgent Care Centre has proved a vital resource for ensuring that anyone needing urgent advice about their health can be seen by the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

During December, the Urgent Care Centre treated an average of 109 patients a day with many more patients attending on Saturdays and Sundays. The vast majority of patients are redirected from the Emergency Department but many of them could have saved themselves time by booking an appointment through the free NHS 111 helpline.

In addition to the Urgent Care Centre, a GP out-of-hours service also operates from Paulton Memorial Hospital. If your GP surgery is closed and you require urgent advice about your health, then you can call NHS 111 for free, 24/7. An adviser will assess your symptoms, provide further advice and book you an appointment at the Urgent Care Centre or Paulton Memorial Hospital if deemed appropriate.

Dr Ian Orpen, a local GP and Clinical Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, (BaNES CCG) said:"When the CCG decided to relocate the NHS Walk-in Centre in Bath and open a new Urgent Care Centre at the RUH, some people questioned whether we were doing the right thing.

"One year on, and after one of the busiest winters ever for the NHS, the Urgent Care Centre has proved absolutely invaluable for ensuring that people can receive the care they need in a timely fashion. It has significantly relieved pressure on the Emergency Department at the RUH, allowing them to focus on treating the really life-threatening cases."

Ask your pharmacist

Pharmacists are expert in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets.

You don't need an appointment and many have private consultation areas so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will tell you if you need further medical attention.

The opening times for local pharmacies over the Easter Bank Holidays are:

• Good Friday: 10 a.m. to4 p.m., Lloyds Pharmacy,Norton House, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DG.

• Easter Sunday: 12 noon to 1 p.m., Shaunaks Pharmacy, 15 Bath Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8DH.

• Easter Monday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lloyds Pharmacy, Chesterfield House, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DD and Lloyds Pharmacy, Norton House, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DG.

Call 111

If your local GP surgery is closed and you're not sure which NHS service you need, then you should make a free phone call to NHS 111, which is available 24/7.

An adviser will ask you 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 the GP out-of-hours service which operates from the Urgent Care Centre at the RUH in Bath as well as Paulton Memorial Hospital.

Remember: A&E is for life-threatening emergencies

A&E Departments are for life-threatening emergencies such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.

If you're not sure if you should go to A&E, then call NHS 111 for advice.