Plan ahead and know where to go for health advice over the August bank holiday

As the August bank holiday approaches, local health officials are asking Rochdale borough residents to plan ahead and know where to go for medical help over the bank holiday weekend.

Their advice is intended to help local people to get the right care, in the right place, in the shortest possible time – freeing up emergency services to help those most in need.

For protection against illness, people are reminded to take practical steps which include stocking up on over the counter remedies and picking up repeat prescriptions.

If you do feel unwell over the bank holiday weekend, there are a variety of treatment options available to patients in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, including:

• Community pharmacist

Your local pharmacist is the first place to go to for fast and convenient clinical advice and over the counter medicines to treat minor health concerns such as sore throats, coughs, colds, tummy troubles, teething and aches and pains - no appointment needed. They can also refer patients to further professional help where necessary.

Pharmacies that will be open on Monday 26 August are:

Asda In-Store Pharmacy Dane Street, Rochdale, OL12 6XT from 9am – 6pm - 01706 652 010
Tesco In-Store Pharmacy Barton Road, Middleton, M24 1HB from 12noon – 4pm - 0345 675 7298

Please telephone your usual pharmacy before travelling.

• GP and nurse appointments

Some GP and nurse appointments will be available over the bank holiday weekend at extended hours hubs located across the borough. Patients can book in advance by contacting the Central Booking Service on 0161 763 8292. Urgent on the day appointments may be subject to triage.

• NHS 111

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

You can dial 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk using your smartphone, laptop or another digital device to answer questions about your main symptoms, receive tailored advice on what to do next and be contacted by a healthcare professional if needed - instead of worrying, self-diagnosing or second-guessing what you should do.

• Urgent Care Centre at Rochdale Infirmary

Rochdale’s Urgent Care Centre is available to treat patients with a minor injury or illness, or an urgent but less serious emergency.

• Accident & Emergency (A&E) or 999

In critical situations only, call 999 or visit A&E. If it is not a major, life-threatening illness or injury, consider the other options available to you (as shown above).

Dr Chris Duffy, local GP and Chair of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) said: “We want everyone to enjoy the long weekend and with some simple preparations; many minor conditions can be easily treated with a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.

“If you do become unwell, it’s important to know where to go for medical help.

“By choosing the right health service, patients will get the best treatment in the shortest possible time, whilst keeping emergency health services available for those who need them."