Download our handy guide to help you know which health services are open during the festive period
Many health services close during the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays but there are several options available every single day, including GP Hubs where you can still get appointments to see a GP or nurse, or the 24/7, 365 days per year GP Out of Hours provision for Tower Hamlets residents.
Tower Hamlets GP Care Group, which provides a number of health services in the borough, is making it easier for residents to know where to turn for GP health services this Christmas period by producing a handy leaflet for residents to download and refer to if they are unsure where to go for GP-related health care.
When your usual GP practice is closed, you can access GP and nurse appointments at our local GP Extended Access Hubs. The hub based at St Andrews Health Centre (2 Hannaford Walk, Bow) will offer GP and nurse appointments on the Bank Holidays too – Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day – from 8am to 8pm. While the hub based at the Barkantine Practice (121 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs) will be open on New Year's Day – from 8am to 8pm. The other GP hubs based across Tower Hamlets will be available as usual except on the Bank Holidays.
For online support, our eConsult service and the NHS App are excellent resources for non-urgent medical issues helping patients to self-check their symptoms and receive on the spot medical advice 24/7.
Tracy Cannell, Joint Chief Executive, GP Care Group, said: "Knowing where to go before something goes wrong can make all the difference. Our handy festive guide to services lists the GP and nurse health care options available in Tower Hamlets during the festive period. We want to help people make the right choices when it comes to health services and not simply default to going to A&E unless they have a life-threatening issue."
"With Christmas often being a difficult time for vulnerable people, we have also listed a range of mental health support in our guide too."
You can access all of these services, including local pharmacy opening times, by calling NHS 111, it's free, even on a mobile phone. NHS 111 is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
We wish all our patients and residents, season's greetings and a Happy New Year!
Download our festive guide below:
