With the Easter holidays fast approaching, NHS Somerset is sharing some handy tips to keep you and your family healthy over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Repeat prescriptions
If you think you’re likely to run out of medication over the Easter bank holiday, please put your repeat prescription in this week.
GPs and many pharmacies close over the Easter weekend – Good Friday to Easter Monday, inclusive – so it’s important you have enough medication to see you through.
You can request your repeat prescription through the NHS App or via your GP practice. This can then be filled at a community pharmacy of your choice.
Community pharmacy
Your local pharmacy can offer help and advice if you’re affected by one of over 40 common conditions: from earache to sore throats, hay fever and skin conditions. Pharmacists can offer a private consulting room to discuss any conditions you may have.
Bank holiday opening hours
Some pharmacies will be closed over the bank holidays. For more information on which pharmacies in Somerset visit our NHS Somerset website.
Pharmacy First
Your pharmacy can also offer treatment for seven common conditions:
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- Earache (aged 1 year to 17 years)
- Infected insect bite (aged 1 year and over)
- Impetigo – a bacterial skin infection (aged 1 year and over)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women (women aged 16 years to 64 years).
This can be the best way for you to get the help you need to recover quickly. For more information on the Pharmacy First service, visit NHS Somerset Pharmacy First.
Mental Health Support
If you’re struggling with your mental health, there are places that can help.
Open Mental Health (OMH) is an alliance of local voluntary organisations, the NHS and social care, Somerset Council, and individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges. Working together, we provide one point of access—a single place to turn to—for specialist mental health support across Somerset.
The OMH Stay Well Kit has contact details, resources, and advice from organisations across the OMH alliance. You’ll discover practical and preventative steps to keep yourself physically, financially and mentally well.
Open Mental Health Mindline Somerset is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the Easter period. Mindline is a confidential service and provides a safe place to talk if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health difficulties. Whether you’re feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or just need someone to listen, no problem is too small, and you’re not wasting anyone’s time. Call Mindline Somerset locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.
Crisis Safe Space is available every day, offering out-of-hours evening appointments for anyone really struggling with their mental health. Instead of going to A&E, making an urgent doctor’s appointment, or suffering in silence, you can arrange a one-to-one session with a Crisis Safe Space team member who will listen and help. Call the numbers above or book online.
NHS 111
If you’re unsure where to go, NHS 111 can advise you of the best place to go depending on what you need, and which service is in the best position to care for you.
Call 111 or use NHS 111 Online.
Urgent Community Response
If you or someone you care for needs urgent care at home for example because you have had a fall, having become increasingly confused or have had a sudden deterioration in your health, we can come to your home within two hours of receiving a referral. You can ask for a referral by contacting 111, your GP, you alarm response service or when you contact 999.
The service is here for anyone over 18 and are open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Watch our video for more information around how the service works
Urgent Treatment Centres and community services
While it’s important to go to hospital if you are very ill or need surgery, we have hundreds of services that can bring healthcare either closer to, or directly to, your home.
We have six Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) in our community hospitals based at Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater and Minehead, as well as one Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) based at Burnham-on-Sea.
Please make sure to check your local UTC/MIU page for up-to-date opening information before attending.
Hospital and emergency services
There are some occasions when coming to the emergency department (A&E) is the safest option. Our emergency departments at Musgrove Park and Yeovil District hospitals, and our local ambulance service, are available 24/7, 365 days a year for life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
Handiapps
There are apps you can download with advice to help you look after you child. Visit our apps page for more.
Live Well in Somerset
You can find information on the huge range of services available in Somerset over on the Live Well in Somerset pack.
