The Department of Health (DoH) is calling on all members of the public to prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing over the Christmas and New Year period and to ensure they use the most appropriate service should they become unwell.

Choosing the correct option for specific symptoms will assist individuals in obtaining the right care more swiftly, while simultaneously easing pressure on essential emergency services.

Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, GP practices, community pharmacies, and dental services all have defined arrangements in place to cover the festive bank holidays.

Non-Life-Threatening and Minor Issues

For minor illnesses and injuries, support is readily available across several services:

• Community Pharmacies: The Pharmacy First service is available at participating pharmacies across Northern Ireland. Pharmacists can offer advice and treatment for many common complaints, including a sore throat, shingles, a urinary tract infection (UTI), and provide emergency hormonal contraception, without the need for a GP appointment.

- Bank Holiday Hours: During the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, pharmacies will operate on a rota basis. Rotas are posted on the BSO website: bso.hscni.net/pharmacy-support-links/weekly-holiday-rotas/.

• Minor Injuries Units (MIUs): These units can treat non-critical issues such as simple fractures, sprains, wounds, minor head injuries, burns, and bites.

- Action: Some units operate a Phone First model; check local arrangements on NI Direct (www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/urgent-and-emergency-care-services) before attending.

• GP Practices (Working Days): GP practices (www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/gp-practices) will offer additional same-day urgent clinical triage, will remain open during lunchtime, and will not have half-day closures on working days over the holiday period.

- Closure Dates: Practices will be closed on Thursday 25 December 2025, Friday 26 December 2025, and Thursday 1 January 2026.

• GP Out of Hours: This service is for urgent medical issues when the GP surgery is closed, including weekends and bank holidays. Find your local service at www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/gp-out-hours-service#toc-2. • Self-Care: Most minor ailments, such as colds, aches and pains, sore throats, and upset stomachs, are best managed with rest and over-the-counter medicines. Advice for common mild conditions is available via the NI Direct A–Z symptom checker (www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/illnesses-and-conditions) and the Children's Symptom Checker (belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/childrens/childrens-symptom-checker/).

Urgent, Non-Life-Threatening Care (Phone First)

For more serious, non-life-threatening issues, the Phone First service is the appropriate initial contact point to potentially reduce or avoid waits at Emergency Departments.

• How it Works: When you contact the Phone First service in your local Health and Social Care Trust area (online.hscni.net/our-work/no-more-silos/phone-first-faqs/), a health professional will assess your condition by phone, provide advice, and, if required, direct you to the most suitable urgent or community service.

Life-Threatening Emergencies

In a life-threatening emergency, always dial 999.

• Emergency Departments (EDs): EDs (www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/urgent-and-emergency-care-services#toc-2) are for the highest level of emergency care for sudden, acute illness or severe trauma (e.g., suspected stroke, heart attack, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, or breathing difficulties).

- Waiting Times: You can check average waiting times across local hospitals on NI Direct (www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/emergency-department-average-waiting-times).

Specialist Services

• Out of Hours Dental Services: For an urgent dental problem out of hours, contact your own dental practice first for their arrangements.

- Emergency Dental Clinics (EDCs): EDCs operate on bank holidays and weekends. Over Christmas and New Year, EDCs will operate on Thursday 25 December 2025, Friday 26 December 2025, Saturday 27 December 2025, Sunday 28 December 2025, and Thursday 1 January 2026. Telephone 028 2566 3510 (lines open 8.00am–12 noon). Calls are triaged for severe pain, trauma, spreading infection, and uncontrolled bleeding. Do not attend without a booked slot.

- Urgent Eye Care: For sudden issues like a red eye, new pain, sudden vision reduction, or a sudden increase in flashes/floaters, seek urgent help from your local optometrist. If the practice is closed and the problem is very urgent, contact Phone First or your nearest hospital (www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/urgent-and-emergency-care-services#toc-2).

Mental Health and Social Work Support

• Mental Health Emergencies: For immediate, confidential mental health support, call Lifeline free, 24/7 on 0808 808 8000 (www.lifelinehelpline.info/).

• Out of hours Regional Emergency Social Work Service: For social work emergencies that cannot wait until the next working day, call 0800 197 9995.

Key Preparation Steps

The DoH advises everyone to familiarise themselves with service opening hours, keep key contact numbers handy, and order repeat prescriptions in good time before GP practices close for the holidays.