Pharmacy opening times at Christmas

NHS Bedfordshire has published details of pharmacy opening times for the Christmas and New Year period, so that people know where they can go for advice and treatment on minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, flu and tummy upsets.

Boots Chemist in Biggleswade Market Square will be open tomorrow (Christmas Eve) from 8.30am to 5pm and on Sunday (Christmas Day) from noon to 2pm.

Sainsbury’s in-store pharmacy in Biggleswade will be open on Monday (December 26) from 10am to 5pm and on Tuesday (December 27) from 9am to 7pm.

Jardines (UK) in Kingfisher Road, Biggleswade will open from 9am to 12.30pm on Christmas Eve. Lloyds Pharmacy in Biggleswade Market Square will open from 9am to 5.30pm on the same day and, also on Christmas Eve, Lloyds Pharmacy in Biggleswade High Street will open from 9am to 12.30pm.

Lloyds Pharmacy in Potton Market Square will be open from 9am to 5pm on Christmas Eve as will the Lloyds Pharmacy at 4 Market Square in Sandy. The Lloyds Pharmacy at 5 Market Square in Sandy will be open on Christmas Eve from 9am to 1pm.

The Lloyds Pharmacy in Shefford will be open on Christmas Eve from 9am to 5pm.

Stotfold Pharmacy will open from 9am to 1pm on Christmas Eve.

Aside from this Chronicle Country pharmacies will be closed.

NHS Bedfordshire’s head of medicines management, Andy Cooke, said: “Pharmacies are an excellent alternative to visiting your GP or walk-in centre for healthcare advice and so we have arranged pharmacy cover throughout the Christmas period so that people can continue to use these important services.

“I would advise households to stock up on basic medication prior to the Christmas period so that they can treat very minor illnesses and injuries themselves; simple painkillers, indigestion remedies, anti-diarrhoeal medicine, rehydration mixture, plasters and a thermometer are all available from local pharmacies with their advice.

“If you are on prescription medication then it is also a good idea to check that you have enough medication to last you through the Christmas period.”

Opening times have also been given for the New Year period.

Boots Chemist in Biggleswade Market Square will be open from 8.30am to 5pm on Saturday, December 31 (New Years Eve). Jardines (UK) in Kingfisher Road, Biggleswade will open from 9am to 12.30pm on New Years Eve.

Lloyds Pharmacy in Biggleswade Market Square will open on New Years Eve from 9am to 5.30pm. Lloyds Pharmacy in Biggleswade High Street will open from 9am to 12.30pm on New Years Eve.

Sainsburys in-store pharmacy in Biggleswade will open from 6am to 7pm on New Years Eve, from 10am to 4pm on New Years Day and from 9am to 7pm on Bank Holiday Monday (January 2).

Lloyds Pharmacy in Potton Market Square will be open from 9am to 5pm on New Years Eve as will the Lloyds Pharmacy at 4 Market Square, Sandy. Lloyds Pharmacy at 5 Market Square, Sandy will open from 9am to 1pm on New Years Eve.

Lloyds Pharmacy in Shefford High Street will open from 9am to 5pm on New Years Eve. Stotfold Pharmacy in Brrok Street will open from 9am to 1pm on New Years Eve.

If you need medical advice over the Christmas period then you can visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

The message from the NHS this Christmas is to take the time to choose the right service for your symptoms and to only call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency.

The NHS has also issued some top tips for non-emergencies:

- Not all ailments need assistance from an NHS service; coughs, colds and sore throats may be best treated at home by ensuring a well stocked medicine cabinet. If you have symptoms of flu or a heavy cold, stay at home, rest, keep warm and take plenty of fluids. Remember antibiotics do not work on viral infections such as coughs and colds.

- Visit your local pharmacy for advice on treating common winter illnesses and the best medicines to use.

- Patients suffering more painful or serious ailments such as vomiting, ear pain, stomach complaints should ring either their GP practice or NHS Direct for an assessment and advice on how to access care urgently if required.

- To contact the out of hours service, call your GP surgery at any time - night or day - for information and contact details.

- If you have a minor illness and/or injury such as a scald or sprain that doesn’t require an A&E visit but you can’t wait for a GP appointment, visit your nearest Walk-in Centre (open every day, including bank holidays).