Anyone who needs health help this Easter has been urged to choose the right place for treatment so they can make sure emergency services remain available for those in the greatest need.
HealthEast, Great Yarmouth and Waveney’s clinical commissioning group, is reminding people of the range of options available to them in the run up to the Easter holiday. This includes:
• local pharmacists, who are experts in medicines and can give help and advice for minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds and sore throats, so that you can care for yourself at home
• the free NHS 111 number, which is for people who need urgent medical help or advice but are not in a life-threatening situation. You can call 111 24 hours a day if:
• you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency
• you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
• you don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call
• you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
• you need to see a GP urgently when your practice is closed
Your call will be answered by a trained call handler, whose job it is to ensure you can access the most appropriate local service.
• Greyfriars walk-in centre in Great Yarmouth, which is open every day from 8am to 8pm, and is ideal for people who need to be seen immediately but do not have a serious illness or injury
Anyone with a minor injury, such as scalds, sprains, cuts and strains, can go to:
• Beccles minor injuries unit, which is based at the town’s hospital on St Mary’s Road and open daily from 8am to 8pm. Call 01502 719821 for more information.
• Halesworth MIU, at Cutler’s Hill Surgery on Bungay Road, which is open from 8.30am to 6pm on weekdays but will be closed on Good Friday and bank holiday Monday. You can contact the MIU on 01986 874618.
• Southwold MIU, which is based at Southwold Surgery in York Road. The unit is open on weekdays from 8am to 6.30pm, but will be closed on bank holiday Monday. Call 01502 722326 for further information.
For more information about healthcare in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, visit the HealthEast website at www.greatyarmouthandwaveneyccg.nhs.uk and click on “your services”. For a list of pharmacy opening times over the holiday, click on the link from the homepage.
