PATIENTS are being urged to plan carefully ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday, by requesting repeat prescriptions in advance and making themselves aware of primary care services on offer.
GP 
and pharmacy services will be limited on Good Friday (March 30) and Easter Monday (April 2). On all other normal working days GP surgeries are open from 8am to 6.30pm as normal.
The Oldham GP Federation’s 7 Day GP Access service, commissioned by NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, allows for additional GP appointments to be made on weekends from 10am until 2pm, weekday evenings from 6pm until 8pm, and on weekends and bank holidays from 10am until 2pm.
Over Easter, the Federation will be offering the Oldham 7 Day GP access service at the Integrated Care Centre (ICC), New Radcliffe St, Oldham OL1 1NL at:
- Good Friday (March 30) from 10am – 2pm
- Saturday (March 31) from 10am – 2pm
- Easter Sunday (April1) from 10am – 2pm
- Easter Monday (April 2) from 10am – 2pm
The Oldham 7 Day GP access service will also be offered on Saturday, March 31 between 10am and 2pm at the Royton and Failsworth hubs, at the Royton Health & Wellbeing Centre, Park Street, Royton, OL2 6QW and The Keppel Building, Ashton Rd West, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 0AD.
Please note the booking line number for the service is 0161 934 2827.
Saturday, March 31 is a normal working day for pharmacies, so they will be open as usual. Some pharmacies are also open during the Easter holidays.
Your local pharmacy is the place to go to get any prescription medicines and clinical advice for minor health concerns. Your pharmacist can help with common illnesses and provide advice on over-the-counter medicines.
Dr. Shelley Grumbridge, GP and Clinical Director for Urgent Care at NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “While self-care is generally the best option for minor ailments, it is important local people know where to go or who to contact if they are unwell, so that they can receive the best possible treatment in the quickest time for their condition.
“I’d also encourage parents of young children to download the Oldham Child Illness app, which aims to provide up-to-date information about common childhood ailments and the best way to treat them.”
The Oldham Child Illness app is free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
Find out more about health care on the NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk) for advice on less urgent health needs.
Call NHS 111 for clinical advice, assessment and for direction to the most appropriate services for treatment if you need medical help fast but it is not an emergency – available 24/7.
Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and the 999 ambulance service should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation.