Countess of Chester Hospital prepares for what could be a busy Easter bank holiday

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is reminding patients to ensure they are fully prepared for any potential healthcare needs ahead of what could be a busy Easter bank holiday weekend

As the Easter bank holiday can often lead to increased activity in a hospital, the NHS is advising that repeat prescriptions should be ordered at least seven working days ahead of the bank holiday to guarantee that they will be available in time, which can be done quickly and easily via the NHS App.

The app also allows you to choose which pharmacy you’d like your medication to be sent to, and to track the progress of your order.

In addition to planning ahead, people are also being urged to make sure that they know how to support the safe and timely discharge of loved ones who are ready to leave hospital.

Cathy Chadwick, Chief Operating Officer at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"Together with local health and care partners this next week, a focused effort will be underway to get patients home who no longer need to be in hospital, which will make beds available for anyone who may need it over what is expected to be a busy bank holiday weekend.

"To help us do this we are calling on families to ensure they are as prepared as they can be to support their relatives out of hospital – by doing things like arranging transport, ensuring the house is warm, making sure cupboards are stocked with food and helping the patient settle back in at home.”

“Whilst we encourage patients to be as active and independent as possible in hospital, loved ones' support is vital to help us safely get a patient back home in a timely manner.”

And urging people to ensure they know how to access urgent care if they need it over the Easter weekend, Cathy added: “Our hospitals can often become very busy over a long bank holiday weekend and we would ask people to be mindful of this and make NHS 111 their first point of call for all non-emergency healthcare treatment and advice. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 111 or online.”

You should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency situation when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life may be at risk.

NHS 111 online is accessible via: 

www.111.nhs.uk

There are several options available to people if they need help over the Easter period:

Simply drop in to your local pharmacy and ask for advice – but do remember to call ahead to check their bank holiday opening hours.

You can search for your nearest pharmacy and find out their opening times at: 

www.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy

Parents and carers are also reminded that if your child is unwell, you can visit the Alder Hey online symptom checker which includes helpful advice on how to treat your child at home, and when to seek further medical help at: 

www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/symptoms-checker

More information about when to visit urgent treatment centres, when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website at: 

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services