22 May 2025

NHS 111 online is recommended as the first first point of contact for the general public seeking non-emergency medical advice over the spring bank holiday weekend to ease pressure on busy services across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Liverpool is expected to be particularly busy with BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend taking place between Friday and Sunday in Sefton Park and Liverpool FC's fans will also be out in force to watch their Premier League title parade taking place across the city on Monday, starting at 2:30pm.

This bank holiday is traditionally very busy for NHS services with last year's spring bank holiday generating a 900-call increase in the amount of people calling 111 for emergency repeat prescriptions, compared to the weekend before.

Pharmacies may also have limited opening hours over the bank holiday, and many will be closed on Monday 26 May, making it more challenging for patients to access medicines at short notice. 

Over the long weekend, urgent and emergency care services will be open as normal. The public should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.

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For non-emergency health advice, people can contact NHS 111 online, which offers the same help and advice as the telephone service, which can be accessed by calling 111. The online service is not available for children under five. People looking for urgent medical help for under 5s should use the 111 phone line.

NHs online can help with: 

  • Where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do
  • How to find general health information and advice
  • Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
  • How to get a repeat prescription
  • Getting emergency dental appointments.

You should still ring 999 if you, or someone else, experience:

  • Signs of a heart attack like pain like a heavy weight in the centre of your chest
  • Signs of stroke such as your face dropping on one side
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heavy bleeding that won’t stop
  • Seizures
  • Or sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat, or tongue.

Your local pharmacist can also provide advice and treatment for a wide range of minor conditions. They can also provide treatment were appropriate for the conditions below without the need to see your GP.  You can find your nearest pharmacy by going to find your pharmacy.

  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Earache
  • Infected insect bites and stings
  • Impetigo
  • Shingles
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women.

Further information on how to get urgent help can be found on the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website.

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