19 December 2025

Accessing NHS services over Christmas and New Year

With the Christmas and New Year bank holidays approaching, NHS Derby and Derbyshire is encouraging everyone to plan ahead, stay safe, and use NHS services wisely to ensure you get the right care in the right place.

The NHS is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please help us by always trying to choose the most appropriate service for your needs.

Pharmacy

If you or your family become unwell, you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription. Local pharmacies offer many of the same services local GPs, and you don’t always need an appointment.

Pharmacies can help with things like the flu, sinusitis, sore throat, Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), rashes, earache, and much more. Pharmacies can also now offer supplies of oral contraception and emergency contraception without needing to see a GP first. Find a nearby pharmacy.

Some community pharmacies will be open over the bank holiday. Visit our pharmacy opening hours page for bank holiday opening hours.

GP services during the bank holiday

GP practices will be closed over the bank holidays. However, if you need urgent medical advice:

Use NHS 111 online at nhs.uk or call 111 for assessment and advice.
If needed, NHS 111 can book you a time slot at an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) to ensure you are seen safely.

NHS 111

There are a range of services available to help. Visit 111.nhs.uk or phone 111, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for advice, appointments or to get directed to the most appropriate service.

Care may include:

Seeing a pharmacist for help with a minor illness
Out of hours GP
Urgent dental appointment
Urgent mental health support
Callback from a nurse
Advice for your health needs
Appointment with an urgent treatment centre

Urgent Treatment Centres

Urgent Treatment Centres are available for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, open 8am-8pm even on the bank holiday. Urgent Treatment Centres offer walk-ins, or you can get an appointment through NHS 111. They can treat things like:

Minor fractures and sprains
Cuts and burns
Minor head injuries
Infections requiring urgent treatment

Locations: Derby UTC, Whitworth Hospital, Buxton Hospital, Ilkeston Hospital, Ripley Hospital

Dental care

Contact NHS111 or phone 111 for an urgent dental appointment. You do not need to be registered with an NHS dentist.

Know where to go for mental health support

The Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline & Support Service is available 24/7 for anyone in Derbyshire needing urgent mental health support. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis, trained professionals are ready to listen and help.

Call 111, option 2.

For more information on mental health support in Derbyshire, such as safe havens and crisis services, visit the Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing website.