Information on GP appointments and pharmacy opening times over Christmas and the New Year
News from our partners Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
Local people are being urged to give their medicine cabinet an early Christmas present and stock it up with some festive essentials by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (Shropshire CCG).
It is also reminding people to check they have enough medication on their prescriptions to last them over the festive season.
If people do need medical help this Christmas there will be GP services available 24/7 across Shropshire this Christmas and New Year through the Urgent Care Centre and Out of Hours Service.
The Urgent Care Centre, based alongside the A&E at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, has already drafted in extra staff for the public holidays and Shropdoc has finalised its rota for GP out of hours calls over the Christmas and New Year break.
These will provide cover for the CCG’s 43 GP practices which will be closed this year on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
This festive season the Urgent Care Centre is open every day from 8am to 8pm for anyone who needs urgent medical attention if they cannot get an appointment with their own doctor or are not registered with a GP practice. No appointment is necessary.
The Urgent Care Centre can help with a whole range of symptoms including children with high temperatures, anyone with breathing problems, severe headaches, abdominal pain and painful infections through to mild injuries and burns.
For GP out of hours care, Shropdoc has confirmed that it has cover right through the festive season for anyone who needs urgent medical attention that cannot wait until their own surgery is next open.
Shropdoc can be contacted on 0333 222 6655.
Local pharmacists are covering the festive season on a rota and they can offer professional advice without an appointment. The Shropshire Pharmacy Opening Times for Christmas 2017 and the New Year 2018 Bank Holidays are:
| Monday 25 Dec | Tuesday 26 Dec | Monday 1 Jan | |
| BRIDGNORTH | |||
| Bridgnorth Pharmacy, Mill Street, WV15 5AL | 11am – 12noon | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Boots, 30-31 High Street, WV16 4DB | CLOSED | 10am – 4pm | 10am – 4pm |
| LUDLOW | |||
| Lloyds Pharmacy, 116-119 lower Galdeford, SY8 1RU | 11am – 12noon | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Boots, 34 Bull Ring, SY8 1AB | CLOSED | 11am – 3pm | 11am – 12noon |
| MARKET DRAYTON | |||
| Boots, 48-50 Cheshire Street, TF9 1PR | 11am – 12noon | 10am – 4pm | 10am – 4pm |
| OSWESTRY | |||
| Station Pharmacy, The Old Station Building, SY11 1RB | 12noon – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Boots, 5-7 Church Hill,SY11 2SU | CLOSED | 10am – 4pm | 10am – 4pm |
| SHREWSBURY | |||
| Rhodes Pharmacy, 28 Claremont Road,SY1 1RD | 12noon – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Jhoots Pharmacy, 53 Riverside Shopping Centre, SY1 1PH | 7pm – 8pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Asda, Old Potts Way, SY3 7ET | CLOSED | 9am – 6pm | 10am – 6pm |
| Boots, Pride Hill | CLOSED | 8.30am– 5.30pm | CLOSED |
| Boots, Meole Brace Retail Park, SY3 9NB | CLOSED | 9am – 1.30pm 2.30pm – 6pm | 9am – 1.30pm 2.30pm – 6pm |
| Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsbury’s, Meole Brace Retail Park, SY3 9NB | CLOSED | 9am – 7pm | 9am – 5pm |
| WHITCHURCH | |||
| Rowlands, 11 High Street, SY13 1AX | 11am – 12noon | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Boots, 10-12 Watergate Street, SY13 1DW | CLOSED | CLOSED | 11am – 12noon |
| Green End Pharmacy, 11-13 Green End, SY13 1AD | CLOSED | 11am – 12noon | CLOSED |
Help is also on hand at the touch of a button from NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk, which has a useful Health A-Z guide listing conditions and their treatments.
NHS111 is also free to call from any landline or mobile and is open 24/7.
Dr Julian Povey, Chair of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“Through Christmas and the New Year 100% of the Shropshire population has access to GP services via the GP out of hours service or the Urgent Care Centre.
“We are also asking people to check their prescription medicines and make sure they have enough for the Christmas break.
“When people are out and about Christmas shopping it’s also a good idea to make sure they have the essentials in their medicine cabinet including some paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin, as well as remedies for upset stomachs which should be purchased over the counter.
“If you do fall ill at Christmas don’t leave it to get worse. There are plenty of places to get advice including your local pharmacist and information right at your fingertips from the NHS.”
