DOCTORS in Devon have issued useful advice on staying well over the bank holiday weekend as well as guidance on choosing the right service if you need professional healthcare.

GP surgeries will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday – August 28 – but there is a wide range of services available which provide fast and effective health advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses. Only serious life-threatening conditions need a trip to an Accident and Emergency department at a hospital.

Dr Simon Kerr, a GP in Ottery St Mary and chair of the eastern locality of NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS NEW Devon CCG), said: “Getting out and about and catching up with jobs in the house and garden over the summer are activities lots of us enjoy.

“But accidents happen and it makes sense to plan ahead so if we need treatment or advice when the GP surgery is closed, we know where to go.

“If it’s a life-threatening emergency, dial 999 or go to accident and emergency. However, A and E is for the most serious cases, and we need the doctors there to be free to deal with those.

“A minor injuries unit is the best place to go for urgent but less serious issues, and if you aren’t sure, telephone 111, the NHS 24-hour helpline, where a person trained to help you will advise on the best thing to do. They are open during the bank holiday, so find out where your nearest one is before you need it!

“A pharmacist is trained to advise and offer treatment for a range of ailments, and again, you don’t need an appointment. Many have private consulting rooms nowadays.

“Request your repeat prescription in plenty of time. And have a look through your medicine cabinet to make sure you have the basics to deal with minor ailments.”

Below is a list of healthcare options this bank holiday:

• NHS 111: The helpline is open 24 hours-a-day and is staffed by trained individuals who will advise and guide you to the right service.

• Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) are an alternative to attending accident and emergency when an injury is not considered life-threatening, but still requires urgent treatment, without the need for an appointment. They are run by nurse practitioners who can treat injuries like cuts, small burns or scalds, bites and stings, sprains and certain fractures, minor head injuries and foreign bodies in eyes.

Find your nearest MIU and its opening times at: http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Minor%20injuries%20unit/LocationSearch/551 .

• Pharmacists can offer quick, early advice to patients who feel unwell and they can now provide some medicines usually only available on prescription. Many have private consulting rooms too. Find your nearest pharmacy and check opening times at: http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Pharmacy/LocationSearch/10 .

• If you take regular medication, ensure you have enough to cover the long weekend and request repeat prescriptions well in advance if necessary.

• Stock your medicine cabinet with over-the-counter remedies for ailments such as headaches, stomach upsets, cuts, grazes and stings and indigestion, including remedies for children.

• If you have children, download the HANDi Paediatric app for guidance on how to treat them, available at: https://www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk/information-for-patients/handi-paediatric-app-101832

• Check out NHS Choices for advice on symptoms, treatments and where to get help at: http://www.nhs.uk/pages/home.aspx .

IN CREDITON

In Crediton, the only pharmacy open on Bank Holiday Monday will be at the Tesco store at Wellparks.

Opening times will be from 9am to 6pm.

The pharmacies at Boots, Crediton Pharmacy and Lloyds at Chiddenbrook will be closed.

Alan Quick