Help us help you over the May/June Bank Holiday weekend

NHS services are currently extremely busy, as they continue to see a rise in demand across all health services. There are also rising numbers of healthcare staff who are off work with COVID-19. Together this means health services are working extremely hard to continue to provide the best possible care for those who need NHS help.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, the NHS is asking the public to ‘help us help you’ if you need help and support.

Please –   

• Use the right services for your needs at the right time – pharmacies and NHS 111 are the best place to start, providing expert help and advice;
• You can contact NHS 111 24 hours a day by dialling 111 or going online to 111.nhs.uk 24 hours a day. They can advise, support and direct you to the most appropriate service; they can link you in with out of hours GP services, walk-in-centres and other services.
• Local pharmacies are open over the weekend and can provide expert help and advice.
• Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres are also open over the weekend.
• Please only go to A&E or Emergency Departments if it is a life-saving emergency, like a suspected stroke or heart attack or severe bleeding.
• Be patient and kind to the staff – they are trying to keep people safe.

If you need mental health support over the Bank Holiday, the Sussex Mental Healthline offers crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 0309 500.

See more about the services open this weekend, including the pharmacies open over the weekend: Know your services – Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk)