Which health services are available this Easter weekend

1 February 2022

Everyone should please stay home in line with government guidance.

If you need medical help, here are the services available over Easter: 

Coronavirus advice

What to do if you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough:

  • Stay at home.
  • If your symptoms worsen or you feel that you cannot manage at home, please refer to the NHS111 online coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you can’t get online or you’ve been instructed to call.
  • Please do not go to your GP practice or community pharmacy.

GP surgery openings

What to do if you or someone you live with doesn’t have coronavirus symptoms but needs medical advice or assistance:

  • GP surgeries in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will be open on Good Friday (10 April) and Easter Monday (13 April). The majority will open for their usual weekday hours, and if your particular practice is not open, another will be open nearby ,
  • On Saturday 11 April and Sunday 12 April, GP surgeries will be open during the same hours they would on any other weekend.

If you think you need to talk to your GP about something other than coronavirus:

  • Contact the practice online or by phone. If your practice is not open for any reason you will be directed to another nearby service.
  • If a face-to-face appointment is necessary, you will be given specific advice about this.

Community pharmacy services over the bank holiday

Many community pharmacies will be open for a minimum of three hours on Good Friday (10 April) and Easter Monday (13 April) with some pharmacies opening for longer.

You can find pharmacy opening times for the whole of the Easter weekend here

Alternatively, please check the pharmacy website or call them.

Pharmacists and their teams are an essential part of the NHS and need your help and support during the coronavirus pandemic. Always treat our staff with respect, they are doing their best to provide you with the medicines and advice you need.

Important information about prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Order repeat prescriptions in your usual quantities at the usual time. Over-ordering of your medicines may mean someone else has to go without theirs.
  • Order your usual prescription online or by an app. Do not go to your GP practice or pharmacy to order prescriptions and only phone them if you cannot order online or by an app. You can order repeat prescriptions on the NHS App and through your GP surgery or pharmacy’s online service, where available. You can find out about ordering medicines online at nhs.uk
  • If you have a prescription to collect:
    • If you are 70 or over, have a long-term health condition or are pregnant you should arrange collection by a relative or friend, or ask your pharmacy for help with delivery
    • Ask any relatives and friends who are delivering your medicines to make sure they have seen you pick up the bag
    • If your medicines are being delivered make sure you keep a safe distance when you receive them.
  • For everyone else, if you are going into a pharmacy in person, follow social distancing rules and the rules put in place by the pharmacy to protect you and their staff
  • Pharmacies may have altered opening times to manage their workload
  • Sales of some medicines may be restricted in quantity by pharmacies to ensure that there is enough for everyone.

Dental services

If you have an urgent or emergency dental condition, please call 111. Please do not attend your usual dental practice or any other clinic without first calling 111 so that you can be directed to the most appropriate service. 

Registered patients:

If you are regustered with a dental practice, please call by phone to seek a referral. All NHS dental surgeries should be accessible by phone, even though their doors are shut.

Unregistered patients:

If you are not registered with a dentist, please use the numbers below according to where you live:

Bath and North East Somerset – call 111

Swindon and Wiltshire – call 0345 758 1926, Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, or 111 outside these times