Health services are here to help on the bank holidays in May

A range of health services will be available to patients in Wakefield District over the upcoming bank holiday weekends to ensure they get the most appropriate care for their needs.

This year, the May Day bank holiday (1 May) will coincide with planned strike action by some ambulance service staff.

GP practices will be closed on the bank holidays but support for urgent, same-day health requirements will still be accessible through the GP Care Wakefield service, which will be operating between 9am and 3pm on the forthcoming bank holidays (1, 8 and 29 May).

All you need to do is contact your own practice telephone number, at any time of day and you will get through to the right service. More information about the service is available on the Conexus website.

Pontefract Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for minor illnesses and injuries. It’s led by a team of GPs, advanced nurse practitioners and emergency nurse practitioners. To book an appointment, please ring NHS 111.

King Street Walk in Centre in Wakefield is open seven days a week, between 10am and 10pm, to help diagnose and treat urgent, non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, for those over the age of six months. Ring the service on 01924 882350 to speak to a clinician.

If you need health advice quickly, but it’s not an emergency, you can speak to a pharmacist. They are the highly trained health professional on the high street and offer a range of services. Some community pharmacies will be open on the bank holidays. To find one near you, visit the NHS website.

It’s important to plan ahead and get repeat prescriptions ordered in advance of the bank holidays. Using Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) means your prescription will be ready without having to contact your GP each time. Ask your GP or pharmacist about eRD today.

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. To get help from NHS 111, you can go to 111.nhs.uk (for those aged 5 and over only) or call 111 (available for children under 5-years-old).  NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have a life-threatening illness or injury, you should call 999 or go to an Emergency Department.

By choosing the right service you can make sure you and those around you get the most appropriate care, in the best place, as quickly as possible. Find out more about the different services available, including information on when to go to A&E, on the Together We Can website.