Be prepared and take care this Bank Holiday weekend

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

People are being advised to be prepared and take care when enjoying themselves during the Bank Holiday weekend. 

Doing simple things like making sure you have all the medicine you will need, storing key telephone numbers on your phone, and looking out for vulnerable neighbours, are just some of the things you can do to help be prepared for the three-day break. 

If you do require medical assistance, then it is also important that you choose the right place for help when you need it.  For example, Accident and Emergency centres and the ambulance service should only be used for life-threatening and critical situations, and can be much busier during the Bank Holiday periods. 

Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Subramanian Kumaran, from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said:

“Bank Holiday weekends can be busy times for Accident and Emergency departments, so we would urge people to take extra care while enjoying themselves over the coming weekend. 

“These extended weekends tend to see more people carrying out DIY at home, enjoying more outdoor activities and having barbecues, especially when the weather is good.  So we would urge people to take extra caution during the coming Bank Holiday weekend, and also to keep a check on how much alcohol they are consuming. 

“It is also important for people to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable neighbours, especially if the weather is hot, and make sure they have enough medicine to last them over the Bank Holiday periods.

“If anyone does need medical help or advice they should only go to A&E or call an ambulance if it is a life-threatening or critical situation.  There are other options open to the public, like walk-in centres, minor injury units, or Shropdoc.”

More handy tips issued by the local NHS for Bank Holiday health include:

• Make sure you have enough medicine to last you over the Bank Holiday periods.  During these holidays pharmacists are only open at certain times, and your local pharmacy may not be open at all. 
• Call the Shropdoc the out-of-hours GP service on 0844 406 8888 if you do need medical advice or you need to speak to a GP out of normal office hours, when your normal GP practice is closed. 
• Accident and Emergency centres (A&E) and the ambulance service should only be used for life-threatening and critical situations, and can be much busier during the Bank Holiday periods.  Please only go to A&E of call an ambulance if it is a life-threatening or critical situation.  There are other options open to public, like the Walk-In Centres in Shrewsbury and Telford, or the local minor injury units in Oswestry, Bridgnorth, and Ludlow.  More information about other these and other local health services is available from: www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk , www.telford.nhs.uk/Telford-and-Wrekin-CCG , www.sath.nhs.uk and www.powysthb.wales.nhs.uk.  
• Keep safe over the Bank Holiday and follow safety advice to avoid injuries from DIY and leisure pursuits.