Choose health service most appropriate to deal with your symptoms

The following health and care arrangements will be in place, should you or a member of your family become ill or have an accident. As part of the Choose Well campaign, we are encouraging everyone to “Think where. Choose well”. Choosing the service most appropriate to your symptoms will mean you get the right treatment in the right place and will also help to manage your health service resources. Self-care is the best choice to treat minor illnesses, ailments and injuries. A range of common illnesses such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, upset stomachs and sore throats can be treated with over the counter medicines and plenty of rest. Remember, whether treated or not, most of these will get better. Pharmacy Your local pharmacist can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints. The Health and Social Care Board has been working closely with local pharmacists to draw up holiday pharmacy rota arrangements. The pharmacy rota arrangements are: Friday, 25th December 2015 Lurgan SJ McKeagney 7.00pm – 8.00pm Portadown Hamill Pharmacy Ltd 11.00am – 12.00noon Saturday, 26th December 2015 Lurgan SJ McKeagney 7.00pm – 8.00pm Portadown No Rota Required T/A McKeagney Chemists 10 Edward Street Sunday, 27th December 2015 Lurgan SJ McKeagney 7.00pm – 8.00pm McKeevers On the Bridge 53/55 Mill Street 19 Thomas Street Portadown Hamill Pharmacy Ltd 11.00am – 12.00noon Tuesday, 29th December 2015 Lurgan Wynrose Ltd 6.00pm – 7.00pm Portadown Eden Portadown 5.30pm – 7.00pm Wednesday, 30th December 2015 Portadown Eden Portadown 5.30pm – 7.00pm Thursday, 31st December 2015 Lurgan Wynrose Ltd 6.00pm – 7.00pm Friday, 1st January 2016 Lurgan Wynrose Ltd 7.00pm - 8.00pm Portadown Eden Portadown 11.00am – 12.00 noon Repeat Prescription Medications. Please remember to order and collect any essential repeat prescription medications from your daytime GP surgery in advance of the holiday period. GP out of hours will only provide repeat prescriptions in exceptional circumstances. Pharmacy Rotas. Details of pharmacies which will be open for urgent prescriptions over the Christmas and New Year period can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/choosewell Please remember to order and collect repeat prescriptions from daytime GP surgeries in advance of the holidays. GP Out of Hours Services This service is for urgent medical problems that cannot wait until your GP surgery opens. Please remember to telephone the service first on 028 3839 9201. The GP Out of Hours service will be operating from 6pm on Thursday 24th December until GP surgeries open on Tuesday morning 29th December. The GP Out of Hours service will also be operating over the New Year period from 6pm on Thursday 31st December until GP surgeries open on Monday morning, 4th January 2016. Out of hours Dental Services Details of dental services will be displayed at dental surgeries or can be obtained by contacting your dentist. For out of hours urgent dental problems, patients should contact their dental surgery or visit http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/news/EmergencyDentalServices.html or ring the Emergency Department Reception of Craigavon Area Hospital on (028) 3861 2292 or (028) 3861 2006. The Relief of Dental Pain Clinic is for the treatment of dental emergencies only, including trauma, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding and severe pain. Out of hours Emergency Social Work Service The out of hours Emergency Social Work Service is available outside normal office hours and on weekends, Bank Holidays and Public Holidays for genuine emergencies that cannot wait until the next working day. You can contact the service on 028 9504 9999.