Ahead of the bank holiday on 1 May, Jane Clegg, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, is encouraging Londoners to keep their health front of mind by ordering repeat prescriptions early and stocking up on any medication for existing health conditions.   

Over the long weekend some GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed, or working reduced hours, so it is important for Londoners to take this into consideration when planning for their healthcare needs.  

Some local pharmacies may have different opening hours over the bank holiday. Pharmacies open over the long weekend can be found on the NHS Find a Pharmacy  site. 

NHS 111 online remains the best first port of call for people with urgent medical or dental care needs, where a trained adviser will provide the best care pathway.  

On top of the 1 May bank holiday, the Royal College of Nursing have announced industrial action by nurses, which is set to take place from Sunday 30 April to Tuesday 2 May. In addition, some staff working at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust who are members of Unite are planning to strike on Monday 1 May to Wednesday 3 May. This will inevitably have another huge impact on NHS services especially coming directly after the upcoming bank holiday. It is therefore vital that Londoners use emergency services appropriately to ensure emergency care is available to patients who need it most.   

Jane Clegg, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said: 

“While many NHS services will still be open over the bank holiday, we anticipate emergency departments to be busier than usual. This is also in part due to a significant proportion of our NHS workforce planning strike action from Sunday evening.  

“It is therefore important for people to prepare early where possible, to look after themselves, friends and family with any long-term health conditions and avoid any preventable trips to A&E.  

“If you are in an emergency life or limb situation, it is important to call 999 as soon as you can, as we will be prioritising urgent and emergency care during this time.  

“However, if you are not sure if you need to visit A&E for a medical problem, NHS 111 online will give you fast healthcare advice and treatment.”