Easter Health Care Guide: NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Promotes Access to Essential Services

As the Easter holidays approach, bringing with them the promise of lighter nights and hopefully warmer weather, the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is urging residents and visitors to plan their healthcare needs.

This preparation aims to ensure everyone stays healthy and well, while also helping to alleviate the pressures on NHS services during this busy period.

Get Prepared with Susan’s Tips

Susan Bracefield, the Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), shares her advice for a worry-free Easter. “We encourage everyone to get ready for the holidays by ordering medical prescriptions ahead of the bank holiday,” Susan states. She emphasises the importance of having a first aid kit and enough prescribed medication on hand to reduce the demand on health services. This proactive approach allows NHS staff to dedicate their attention to those who need it most during the holiday season.

Accessing Health and Care Services

For those in need of health advice or treatment, there are several options available:

• Your own GP is accessible for health advice, even if you are away from home. In case of forgotten medication, arrangements can be made to collect it from a local pharmacy.
• Local pharmacies now offer the Pharmacy First service for seven common conditions and can provide an emergency supply of prescription medicine without needing to see a GP.
• Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres are available for non-life-threatening emergencies, with no appointment required. These facilities are conveniently located throughout Cornwall, ensuring help is always close at hand.

Where to Go for Care

The NHS provides a variety of options to ensure you receive the right care at the right time:

• For immediate advice when your GP is closed, use NHS 111 online, available 24/7.
• Pharmacy First service is offered by most pharmacies in Cornwall for a range of conditions, providing a convenient alternative to a GP visit.
• Minor Injury Units are located across Cornwall, including facilities in Falmouth, Newquay, and St Austell for Central Cornwall residents and visitors; Bodmin, Launceston, and Liskeard for those in North and East Cornwall; and Camborne Redruth and St Mary’s for West Cornwall, among others.
• The Urgent Treatment Centre at West Cornwall Hospital extends its services until midnight, offering additional support.

Only in Emergencies

It’s vital to remember that calling 999 or visiting the emergency department at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Treliske, should be reserved for genuine life or limb-threatening emergencies. This ensures that emergency services remain available for those in the most critical need.

Over the Easter holiday’s your NHS is here for you so please choose ‘where is best’ to get the right care you need from our NHS services;

Most pharmacies in Cornwall now offer the Pharmacy First service for seven common conditions and can provide an emergency supply of prescription medicine – without seeing a GP. Think pharmacy first: https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/help-us/pharmacy/

Unsure of what service you need or is your doctors closed? Use NHS 111 online which is available 24/7: https://111.nhs.uk/

Call your own GP for health advice, even if you are on holiday here. If you have forgotten medication, they can arrange for it to be collected from a local pharmacy,

Use on of our ten minor injury units and urgent treatment centre for non-life-threatening emergencies, no need for an appointment, most are open evenings and weekends:

If you are in Central Cornwall, you can visit the:

• Minor injury unit at Falmouth Hospital.
• Minor injury unit at Newquay Hospital.
• Minor injury unit at St Austell Community Hospital.

If you are in North and East Cornwall, you can visit the:

• Minor injury unit at Bodmin Community Hospital.
• Minor injury unit at Launceston Community Hospital.
• Minor injury unit at Liskeard Community Hospital.
• Minor injury unit at Stratton Community Hospital.

If you are in West Cornwall, you can visit the:

• Minor injury unit at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital.
• Urgent treatment centre at West Cornwall Hospital – open until midnight.
• Minor injury until at St Mary’s Hospital.

Please only call 999 in a genuine life or limb threatening emergency or visit the emergency department at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Treliske if you are instructed too as this will make sure emergency services are available for people who need it most.

Supporting Your Health This Easter

With the NHS ready to support your health needs this Easter, residents and visitors are encouraged to choose the most appropriate service for their situation. By preparing in advance and making informed choices about where to seek care, you can enjoy a safe and healthy Easter while supporting the NHS in delivering care to those who need it most. For more information on the Pharmacy First service and other NHS services this holiday season, visit the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB website.