Will I be able to see my GP or go to hospital on the day of the Queen’s funeral?
NHS bosses have issued advice to GP practices for the day of the Queen's funeral, it has emerged.
The day of Her Majesty's funeral, Monday, September 19, will be a Bank Holiday, meaning businesses' opening hours may change.
NHS England has said GP surgeries in England will be able to close their doors, providing there is enough care to support the local community.
According to a letter sent to local health bosses, Covid vaccination care home visits and other booster services should continue as normal.
The letter, sent by the NHS director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery, said practices must look at rescheduling cancelled GP appointments and make sure patients can pick up prescriptions in advance.
Pharmacies and dentists will also be allowed to close for some or all of the Bank Holiday, but must ensure their patients continue to have access to the care they need, it explained.
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Meanwhile, some hospitals will continue to run normally over the Bank Holiday, while others have postponed some non-urgent appointments.
Hospitals are expected to make their own decisions around routine appointments based on local staffing levels and whether or not local transport will mean patients and staff are unable to attend.
Urgent care and A&E departments will remain open for emergency appointments.
The decision to cancel routine appointments comes as hospital waiting lists hit an all-time high with almost 6.8 million people were waiting for appointments at the end of July.
And NHS data revealed that nearly 40 per cent of cancer patients had their treatment delayed beyond the two-month maximum.
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What do to if you need your GP and they are shut?
- Your local out-of-hours service should be able to help with any issues you might have
- It’s worth phoning the NHS helpline 111 — especially if it is urgent or for things such as minor injuries. It may be that there is a walk-in centre or minor injuries unit open nearby that you can visit the same day
- Use your pharmacist if they're open. They are healthcare experts, and pharmacists train for five years
- Visit your hospital if it's really urgent
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Public satisfaction with GPs is at its lowest in 25 years — fuelled by problems getting appointments, a poll conducted earlier this year showed.
For the first time ever, more people were unhappy with their family doctor than were happy.