Local NHS leaders are asking communities across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough to use the right service at the right time over the New Year’s weekend, as bank holidays and strike action in the first week of 2024 are expected to lead to a particularly busy few days for health services.

A range of services will be open over some or all of the bank holiday weekend, including a number of community pharmacies, NHS 111 online, and Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres in Peterborough, Ely, and Doddington.

People who are experiencing a life-threatening emergency should immediately call 999 or attend A&E.

But for non-emergency issues, including urgent ones, a range of other services will be open over some or all of the bank holiday weekend to help you.

This includes 111 online, which is available 24/7, every day of the year via www.111.nhs.uk. 111 online will ask you to answer a number of questions to assess your issue, and will put you in touch with a clinician if needed.

A number of community pharmacies will also be open over some or all of the bank holiday weekend.

Pharmacists, who train for at least five years, can offer expert advice as well as treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, from colds and flu to indigestion.

If you need to get medical treatment quickly for a non-emergency issue, your local Minor Injury Unit or Urgent Treatment Centre may be able to help.

Centres in Peterborough, Doddington and Ely will be open over the bank holiday weekend. They can help with sprains and strains, cuts and bites, scalds and more.

For urgent repeat prescription requests, where you have completely run out of a medication you need outside normal opening hours for your GP practice and pharmacy, you can order an emergency supply online via NHS 111.