Date published: 23 December 2025
Cheshire and Merseyside residents have been reminded of their festive healthcare options, including where to go for urgent help, while their GP practice is closed during the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Anyone needing help with life-threatening emergencies and serious injuries should still call 999 or go straight to A&E. For all other urgent help, or if you’re not sure what to do, contact NHS 111 by calling 111, visiting their website or by using the NHS App.
NHS 111 can assess and direct people to the most appropriate local service, including urgent treatment centres, GP practices, and consultations with a pharmacist. If needed it can arrange a call back from a nurse, doctor or paramedic or provide self-treatment advice over the phone and is available 24/7.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “Although industrial action by resident doctors has ended, NHS services across Cheshire and Merseyside remain incredibly busy as we look to recover services and continue to manage seasonal pressures and high levels of flu.
"It’s more important than ever that people choose the right service for their needs. This will ensure you get the right care, first time, while helping to keep vital emergency services available for those who need them most."
If you have a hearing problem, call 18001 111 using the Relay UK app or a textphone. To access the British Sign Language (BSL) video service, go to their website and, if you need help in another language, call 111 and ask for an interpreter.
GP practices will be closed during the Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day bank holidays. Many pharmacies will also be closed or operating on reduced hours. To find your nearest pharmacy and check their opening times, visit the NHS England website.
Urgent treatment centres and Walk-in centres provide same day medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Some centres will be operating under reduced hours during the bank holidays. You can search for appointments via NHS 111, or check opening times here.
There are also options if you're experiencing a mental health crisis. Please contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option to talk to a professional. This service is open 24 /7.
If you need urgent dental help or advice, please contact your dentist in the first instance. If your dental practice is closed, or you aren’t registered at one, you can call the local dental helpline for Cheshire and Merseyside on 0161 476 9651.
The NHS App also lets you access a range of NHS services, such as managing your repeat prescriptions and viewing your GP health record, straight from your smartphone or tablet. You can download it via Google play or the App store, or access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.
