NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has issued guidance on accessing NHS services over the August bank holiday, warning that GP practices are closed at the weekend and on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August, and that many pharmacies will be closed or opening for reduced hours that day1. The guidance was published on 24 August 20261.
The ICB states that NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres, some community pharmacies and mental health crisis services will continue to operate throughout the weekend1. It lists two Urgent Treatment Centres in its area with their opening hours1:
| Service | Location | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Urgent Treatment Centre | Seaton House, London Road, NG2 4LA | 7am to 7pm daily |
| Newark Hospital | Boundary Road, NG24 4DE | 8am to 10.30pm daily, last patient seen 9.30pm |
Dr Dave Briggs, Executive Director of Outcomes (Medical) for the Cluster of Derby and Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Boards, said:
"While some services will have different opening hours over the bank holiday, support is still available. NHS 111, Urgent Treatment Centres, some community pharmacies and mental health crisis services will continue to operate throughout the weekend, helping people access the advice, treatment and support they need."
The ICB advises that people use NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for assessment, advice and access to out-of-hours GP services if needed, and that NHS 111 can book a time slot at an Urgent Treatment Centre1. For urgent mental health support, it says to call 111 and select the mental health option, usually option 2, which connects callers 24/7 to trained mental health professionals1. It states that serious or life-threatening emergencies, such as chest pain or suspected heart attack, stroke symptoms, severe breathing difficulties, heavy bleeding or major trauma, should be met with a call to 9991.
The ICB also states that Pharmacy First provides advice and NHS medicines for seven common conditions and is available at most community pharmacies in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire1. It says many common illnesses, including colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats, can be safely managed at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter remedies1.
Why it matters for households
The closure applies to GP practices across the ICB's area at the weekend and on Monday 31 August, with many pharmacies closed or on reduced hours that day1. Households that rely on repeat medication are affected: the ICB asks people to order and collect repeat prescriptions well in advance, allowing enough time for a prescription to be approved by a GP and dispensed by the pharmacy, and notes that prescriptions can be ordered through the NHS App, the GP practice or Electronic Repeat Dispensing1. For anyone unwell over the long weekend, the ICB directs people to NHS 111 for assessment and out-of-hours GP access, to Urgent Treatment Centres for injuries and illnesses that need urgent attention but are not life-threatening, such as sprains, minor fractures, burns or skin infections, and to 999 for emergencies1. The ICB's pharmacy opening hours page carries bank holiday opening times for community pharmacies in its area1.
Our guides on what to do when your GP is closed and on Urgent Treatment Centres, Minor Injury Units and A&E set out how these services fit together, and our page on Pharmacy First explains what a pharmacist can treat. The health emergencies hub covers the wider picture.
What happens next
GP practices reopen on Tuesday 1 September, after the bank holiday Monday1. The ICB's pharmacy opening hours page lists which community pharmacies are open over the bank holiday1. No further service changes beyond the bank holiday have been reported.
When Your GP Is Closed
