Our A&E departments and 999 responders are facing extremely high demand at the moment. With our hospitals continuing to see rising numbers of people attending A&E, it may mean patients will have to wait longer to be seen this bank holiday weekend. Patients will be seen in order of clinical need, so those with more minor ailments will face longer waiting times.
Knowing your best route to urgent help can help you find the treatment you need faster this Easter weekend.
If you find yourself needing medical assistance over the bank holiday weekend, there are multiple options available to you, including visiting your local pharmacy for advice, booking in with a GP, or contacting NHS 111.
To find your best route to urgent care, click here.
GP appointments are available every normal weekday evening between 6.30pm and 10pm (8pm in Hackney and City of London), and between 8am and 8pm on weekends and bank holidays.
If you live in the City of London, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest or Newham you can book these appointments by calling your own GP practice as usual during working hours or by calling 111 out of hours.
If you live Barking and Dagenham, Havering or Redbridge you can book these appointments by calling the GP hubs booking hotline on 020 3770 1888 (open from 8am to 8pm) or by calling 111 any time.
In these three boroughs you can also get help with minor injuries and illnesses at our community Urgent Treatment Centres at Barking Community Hospital and Harold Wood Polyclinic. These are open 8am to 9pm, seven days a week. You can call NHS 111 to book an appointment or walk in and wait to be seen. You do not need to be registered with a GP.
Covid-19 vaccinations will be taking place as normal over the bank holidays so if you have an appointment please attend.
If you can, order enough medication to last you over the Easter weekend. However, some community pharmacies will also be open on the bank holidays, you can check which and the opening hours on the NHS website here.
Dr Jagan John, GP and chair of NHS North East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:
“While the hope is for everyone to have a fantastic bank holiday weekend, we realise some people may find themselves needing to see a doctor or a nurse on a bank holiday.
“To avoid A&E departments and 999 responders getting overloaded, our Your Route To Urgent Help website is on hand, to help you explore your options – from visiting the local pharmacy if you are feeling unwell or have a minor injury, to out-of-hours GP appointments for those suffering from more serious illnesses.”
“Have a happy and healthy Easter!”
