Health advice and bank holiday pharmacy times
NHS Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is reminding people to prepare for the Easter Bank Holiday by ordering necessary repeat prescriptions now.
To be sure of having enough supplies to last over the holiday period, when GP surgeries and pharmacies operate on reduced opening hours, if you haven’t already done so – now is the time to get repeat prescription requests in at your GP practice.
The CCG, which plans and buys local health services, also wants people to know how to access health services and where to go to get the right care.
Gail Locock, Chief Nurse for the CCG, said: “It’s important people get repeat prescriptions they really need ordered in good time, and that you have enough to last over the bank holiday period, so you can be sure you are not going to run out. It’s also important people go to the right place if they need advice, so we can ensure essential health services aren’t overstretched with people who should have sought help elsewhere.”
“It’s also advisable to have a fully stocked medicine cabinet with over the counter remedies for self-care of common minor ailments. If you are running out of anything, or you need to replace anything that has expired, get it before the holidays start.”
See our home health kit guide:
- Painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen – including infant/child versions if you have young children)
- Throat pastilles
- Digital thermometer
- Plasters, bandages and sticking tape
- Antiseptic lotion, cream or spray
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets
- Rehydration salts
- Indigestion treatments
Where to get help and advice:
If you don’t have internet access or a smartphone, and need health help when it’s not an emergency, NHS 111 can give you free health advice, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just dial 111.
Gail added: “Your local pharmacist is a medicines expert who can advise on the best way to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, hay fever, verrucas, digestive problems and more, and you probably won’t need a prescription as many over-the-counter medicines are readily available for these conditions.”
If you live in or are visiting Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley and need an urgent GP appointment over the Easter weekend, the GP-led White Horse Walk in Centre in Vale Road, Northfleet DA11 8BZ, is open from 8am to 8pm. You don’t need to book an appointment.
For mental health and wellbeing issues and those that are feeling low, free confidential emotional advice and guidance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the Mental Health Matters helpline on 0800 107 0160. The Samaritans are also there to listen at any time of day or night and can be reached by dialling 116 123.
If you suffer a minor injury, trained nurses at minor injury units (MIUs) across Kent can assess and treat cuts, sprains, minor burns, minor dislocations of the fingers and toes, minor eye injuries and remove foreign bodies from, for example, ears and noses. MIUs cannot treat babies under one year old. MIUs are open every day of the year.
You can find a Minor Injury Unit at Gravesham Community Hospital, Bath Street, Gravesend, DA11 0DG. Phone: 01474 360816. Open 8am to 8pm, every day of the year.
For emergency dental care, contact your own dentist first. At evenings, weekends and bank holidays (8.30am to 1.25pm) you can call DentaLine on 01634 890300.
Local pharmacies can be the first port of call for many people who feel unwell. Please see Easter weekend pharmacy opening hours at the bottom of this page.
Other advice from the CCG includes downloading the Health Help Now app. You can download the app from www.healthhelpnow-nhs.net, Google Play or the App Store. It can guide you to the best service for your symptoms, and tell you the nearest NHS services that are open during evenings, weekends and bank holidays, including pharmacies.
If your injury or medical problem is life-threatening, you should dial 999. If you are unsure if your condition is urgent or where to go for health help, dial 111 to speak to a trained advisor.
Easter bank holiday pharmacy opening hours 2018
Good Friday 30 March
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am – 6pm
Thames Way, Gravesend, DA11 0DQ. Tel: 01474 543410
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am – 6pm
Asda Superstore, Station Road, Greenhithe, DA9 9BT. Tel: 01322 374110
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am- 6pm
1 Alexander Grove, London Road, Swanley, BR8 7UN. Tel: 01322 661970
Boots the Chemists – 9am- 5.30pm
9 Kempthorne, Gravesend, DA11 0TA. Tel: 01474 352740
Kings Pharmacy – 10am – 6pm
22a Kitchener Avenue, Gravesend, DA12 5HY. Tel: 01474 359559
Easter Sunday 1 April
Kings Pharmacy – 11am – 5pm
22a Kitchener Avenue, Gravesend, DA12 5HY. Tel: 01474 359559
M D Moore Pharmacy – 8am-8pm
141 Dartford Road, Dartford, DA1 3EN. Tel: 01322 220863
Village Pharmacy – 3pm-5pm
15 Main Road, Hextable, BR8 7RB. Tel: 01322 663021
Easter Monday 2 April
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am – 6pm
Thames Way, Gravesend, DA11 0DQ. Tel: 01474 543410
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am – 6pm
Asda Superstore, Station Road, Greenhithe, DA9 9BT. Tel: 01322 374110
Asda Store Pharmacy – 9am – 6pm
1 Alexander Grove, London Road, Swanley, BR8 7UN. Tel: 01322 661970
Boots the Chemists – 9am – 9pm
South Mall, Bluewater Park, Dartford, DA9 9SJ. Tel: 01322 624780
Boots the Chemists – 10am-4pm
46-52 High Street, Dartford, DA1 1DE. Tel: 01322 223664
Boots the Chemists – 10am-4pm
9 Kempthorne, Gravesend, DA11 0TA. Tel: 01474 352740
Kings Pharmacy – 10am – 6pm
22a Kitchener Avenue, Gravesend, DA12 5HY. Tel: 01474 359559