Skip to main content

News stories

Be prepared and choose well this Easter

Published on 15/04/2025

Hours in A&E or minutes at your local pharmacy
Hours in A&E or minutes at your local pharmacy

With the long Easter weekend approaching, University Hospitals Birmingham is encouraging local people to be prepared, plan ahead, and use the most appropriate health services over the long bank holiday weekend. 

Hospital and emergency services remain open for life-threatening situations, but for most minor illnesses or urgent questions, quicker help is available via NHS 111 and local pharmacies. 

Professor Kiran Patel, Chief Medical Officer said: “NHS services are here to help, but it’s important that people know where to turn to get the right care quickly. Over Easter, your local pharmacy and NHS 111 can provide fast, expert advice often without the need for a hospital visit. Please help us keep A&E for the most serious emergencies.” 

Many pharmacies will be open across the holiday weekend and are a great choice for helping with common issues like coughs, colds, eye infections, and treatment for seven common conditions including urinary tract infections, sinusitis, skin infections and sore throats. 

For more urgent medical concerns, NHS 111 is available 24/7 online or by calling NHS 111. Trained advisors and clinicians can direct patients to the right service, including local urgent treatment centres or out-of-hours GP support.

What the public can do:

More news

Midwife shortlisted for top award

Midwife shortlisted for top award

Mel Griffin, a midwife at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), has been named as a finalist for Midwife of the Year at the Nursing Times Awards 2025, recognising her exceptional dedication to maternal and perinatal care.
1,000 newborn samples collected for The Generation Study at UHB

1,000 newborn samples collected for The Generation Study at UHB

Research colleagues at UHB have recently reached a recruitment milestone in a national study aimed at identifying rare conditions earlier in newborns.
QEHB dietitian wins two prestigious national awards

QEHB dietitian wins two prestigious national awards

Gemma Stewart was named both Clinical Nutrition Professional of the Year and Writer of the Year in the Complete Nutrition magazine awards.
Read more news