It’s good to know that a dozen community pharmacies across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are to remain open on Christmas Day this year, meaning people living in every part of the region should be able to access in-person help for minor illness and injury.
Community pharmacies do much more than just handle prescriptions, with the 12 sites due to be open on Thursday, 25 December, able to share practical advice on how to treat common winter illnesses and carry out private consultations to determine if further help is needed.
Trained pharmacists can also dispense medication, including antibiotics, for seven common conditions, which can save people from having to make an appointment with their GP practice.
In Bath and North East Somerset, the pharmacies that will be open on Christmas Day are:
- Boots Pharmacy, 33-35 Westgate, BA1 1EL (11 am – 1 pm)
- Hawes Whiston and Company, 38 St James Square, BA1 2TU (3 pm – 5 pm)
- Shaunaks Pharmacy, 15 Bath Road, BA2 8DH (2 pm – 5 pm)
- Keynsham Pharmacy, 13-15 High Street, BS31 1DP (11 am – 1 pm) In Swindon, the pharmacies that will be open on Christmas Day are:
- The Pharmacy, 123 Commercial Road, SN1 5PL (11 am – 2 pm)
- Sparcells Pharmacy, Midwinter Close, SN5 5AN (4 pm – 7 pm) In Wiltshire, the pharmacies that will be open on Christmas Day are:
- Pewsham Pharmacy, Cricketts Lane Local Centre, Chippenham, SN15 3SY (11 am – 1 pm)
- Rowden Hill Pharmacy, St Luke’s Drive, Chippenham, SN15 2SD (3 pm – 6 pm)
- Allied Pharmacy, Millstream Medical Centre, Salisbury, SP1 3SL (12 pm – 4 pm)
- Melksham Pharmacy, Spa Road, Melksham, SN12 7EA (3 pm – 5 pm)
- Cohens Chemist, 68 Brook Road, Trowbridge, BA14 9DL (1 pm – 5 pm)
- Shaunaks Pharmacy, Mane Way, Westbury, BA13 3FQ (10 am – 1 pm.) Many of the region’s community pharmacies will also be open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, as well as on the first weekend that immediately follows the Christmas bank holidays.
Helen Wilkinson, Community Pharmacy Integration Lead, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Our pharmacies provide a pivotal lifeline to local communities at any time of year, but especially so at Christmas.
“The dedicated teams working throughout the festive period will be able to provide those who need quick medical attention for a minor illness with the right kind of care, advice and treatment that should soon have them feeling better.
“What’s more, the sites can also give out emergency prescriptions, which means families that run short of vital medication do not have to make a visit to a nearby hospital or urgent treatment centre.
“Along with all the other NHS workers who will be spending Christmas away from their friends and family, our sincere thanks go out to our incredible community pharmacy teams for all that they have done and continue to do.”
The full Christmas and New Year opening times for all pharmacies in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire can be found online at http://www.bsw.icb.nhs.uk.
Alternatively, people can find details of their nearest pharmacy, including its opening times, via the Find a Pharmacy tool on the NHS website at http://www.nhs.uk/service- search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.
