Surgery’s festive opening times

GP practices are asking patients to be prepared in case they require medical advice and care over the Christmas holidays.

Wetherby Surgery is operated by healthcare provider OnePrimaryCare and the team has issued the following advice:

Check opening times – Wetherby Surgery is open as usual on Christmas Eve, but closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 27 and 28 and New Year’s Day.

Urgent care ring NHS 111 – if you need urgent care on a day when your practice is closed, please avoid using the Emergency Department and instead call NHS 111 for advice. For urgent but non-life-threatening medical issue, check online and visit an urgent care centre.

Order prescriptions – Any questions about your medicines, you can ask a pharmacist or call your GP practice for advice.

Keep it or cancel it – up to 10 per cent of appointments are wasted by people not turning up or not cancelling unwanted appointments in advance. Winter is the busiest time of the year for the healthcare sector and all appointments are critical for ensuring patients who need to see a doctor, nurse or healthcare assistant can do so. Please cancel appointments if no longer needed.

Helen Quiney, Service Delivery Lead at Wetherby Surgery said: “Christmas is an extremely busy time for our GP surgery and for our local hospitals’ emergency departments, especially with the pressure of Covid-19. We are asking everyone to be as prepared as possible by following our advice.”

She added: “Make sure you have enough medicine to keep well, know what local services are available when your GP is closed, and cancel unwanted appointments so we can allocate them to other patients.

“We remain open to all registered patients, but if you have symptoms of Covid-19 including a dry, continuous cough, high temperature or a loss or change to your senses of smell and taste, please stay at home and call 111 for medical advice.”

For further information about Wetherby Surgery call 01937 585669 or visit www.onemedicalgroup.co.uk – for information about other local services visit www.nhs.uk