Get the right treatment at the right place. Make sure you Choose Well during the
festive season.
Self care
Having the right medicines to hand can treat a number of minor illnesses – like coughs and
colds, at home. Plan ahead for the bank holiday with a well-stocked first aid kit and over-thecounter remedies from pharmacies. These can be bought from your local chemist and, in
many instances, from the local supermarket.
Here’s a simple checklist of the most likely items you might need. Remember, these should
be kept out of sight and reach of children.
The home medicine kit:
 Paracetamol/aspirin tablets
 Paracetamol and ibuprofen syrups – preferably sugar-free for children (never give
aspirin to children under the age of 16 and follow the instructions on the packet with
other drugs and medicines)
 Decongestants – for those with stuffy noses
 Indigestion remedies, for example, antacid tablets or liquids
 Antiseptic solutions or creams. Solutions are useful for cleaning minor cuts and
grazes, but do read carefully, as some solutions need to be diluted in water before
use
 Thermometer – preferably the forehead type for children
Keep some first aid items as well, such as:
 Adhesive plasters
 Assorted dressings and bandages, including elastic bandages
 Non-absorbent cotton wool
 Sharp scissors
If you take repeat medication, don’t forget to organise your prescriptions from your
GP practice and collect them before the bank holidays.
Pharmacists (chemists)
Pharmacists can offer advice on medicines and how they work. They can also offer advice
on common complaints such as coughs, colds, aches and pains and other health issues,
and can often help you decide whether you need to see a doctor.
The following pharmacies will be OPENING on Christmas Day (25 December):
Widnes
Hale Village Pharmacy, 3 Ivy Farm Court (0151 425 2224) 11am-1pm
Runcorn
Halton Brook Pharmacy, 27 Hillcrest (01928 566772) 11am-1pm
The following pharmacies will be OPENING on Boxing Day (26 December):
Widnes
Boots the Chemist: Unit 7, Widnes Shopping Centre (0151 424 2979) 10am-5pm
Runcorn
Asda Pharmacy, West Lane (01928 703210) 9am-5pm
Lloyds Pharmacy, 5-6 Granville Street (01928 567378) 8.30am-10.30pm
The following pharmacies will be OPENING on New Year’s Day (1 January):
Widnes
Boots the Chemist: Unit 7, Widnes Shopping Centre, Widnes, WA8 7TN (0151 424 2979).
10am-5pm
Runcorn
Asda Pharmacy, West Lane (01928 703210) 10am-4pm
Lloyds Pharmacy, 5-6 Granville Street (01928 567378) 8.30am-10.30pm
Please note at any other time during the festive period, normal opening hours will apply.
Text “pharmacy” to 64746 to receive three free texts with the name, address and telephone
number of your three nearest chemists.
Emergency dental opening hours
A dental emergency is a facial swelling, bleeding after extraction or an accident involving the
mouth. To access the service, please call 01744 673803.
24 Dec, 6-9pm, College Street, St Helens
25 Dec, 9am-5pm, telephone cover only, please call 07881 8511421
26 Dec, 9am-5pm, HCRC Halton, and College Street, St Helens
27 Dec, 6-9pm, College Street, St Helens
28 Dec, 6-9pm, College Street, St Helens
29 Dec, 9am-5pm, HCRC Halton, and College Street, St Helens
30 Dec, 9am-5pm, HCRC Halton, and College Street, St Helens
31 Dec, 6-9pm, College Street, St Helens
1 Jan, 9am-5pm, HCRC Halton, and College Street, St Helens
Outside these times, contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, where advice about dealing with a
dental emergency can be sought.
NHS Direct
If you’re unsure what to do or where you should go to get the right help, call NHS Direct on
0845 4647 (24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year) or visit the website at
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
The lines are staffed by nurses and professional advisors, providing confidential advice and
information on what to do if you or your family are feeling ill, at any time.
You can now access NHS Direct through your digital television. Simply press the interactive
button on your remote control and scroll down to NHS Direct Interactive.
NHS
Direct
!
w w w.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
!
Digital TV
!
Telephone 0845 4647
Available 24 hours
Family planning clinics and young people’s sexual health clinics
Community sexual health service clinics at Widnes Health Care Resource Centre (HCRC)
will be closed:
 From 12noon on Christmas Eve
 All day Christmas Day and Boxing Day
 From 12noon on New Year’s Eve
 All day New Year’s Day
The Saturday young people’s clinic at Widnes HCRC will be open as usual (12.30-2.30pm)
on Saturday 29 December. For further information, call 0845 155 0156.
The Brook young people’s sexual health clinics at Halton Lea Connexions and CRMZ
Widnes will be closed all day Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
GP practices
GP practices will be closed from 6.30pm on Christmas Eve (24 December) and will be open
their normal hours on 27, 28, 29 and 30 December.
Practices will then be closed from 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve (31 December) and will
reopen on their normal hours from 2 January (please check your practice’s normal working
hours – some Halton practices close on a Wednesday).
If your practice is closed on bank holidays and weekends and you need urgent medical care,
you should call your GP practice in the usual way and you will be directed to the out-of-hours
GP.
Patients can also access the out-of-hours GP service directly on 0845 6710 270.
NHS walk-in centre
If you or someone in your family needs fast access to advice or treatment for a minor injury
or illness, such as cuts and grazes, sprains and strains, infections and rashes, emergency
contraception, minor burns and scalds or vomiting and diarrhoea, go to the walk-in centre,
where you will be treated by an experienced nurse.
Widnes Walk-in Centre
The Health Care Resource Centre
Oaks Place
Caldwell Road
Widnes
WA8 7GD
Tel: 0151 495 5000
No appointment is necessary and the service is available seven days a week from 7am to
10pm, 365 days a year.
Alternatively, you may visit the St Helens Minor Injuries Unit/Walk-in Centre at The
Millennium Centre, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HJ. The St Helens Walk-in Centre
is open seven days a week – Monday to Saturday, 7am-10pm and Sundays, 9am-10pm.
Due to limited hospital laboratory services over the bank holiday period, blood tests will not
be carried out on weekends or bank holidays.
Minor injuries unit
If your injury is not serious, you can get help from a minor injuries unit (MIU), rather than
going to A&E. This will allow A&E staff to concentrate on people with serious, life-threatening
conditions and will save you a potentially long wait.
Conditions that can be treated at a minor injuries unit include:
 sprains and strains
 broken bones
 wound infections
 minor burns and scalds
 minor head injuries
 insect and animal bites
 minor eye injuries
 injuries to the back, shoulder and chest
Halton General Hospital
Hospital Way
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 2DA
No appointment necessary and the service is available from 9am-10pm, seven days a week,
365 days year.
Accident and emergency departments
A&E is for emergencies only. It’s the place to go if someone is seriously ill or injured. If you
have an illness that is not life-threatening, please use the other options described in this
advert.
Warrington Hospital
Lovely Lane
Warrington
Cheshire
WA5 1QG
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
Merseyside
L35 5DR