Christmas opening hours for the pharmacies in Chronicle Country have been released.
Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group has published the times so that people know where they can go for advice and treatment for minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, flu and stomach upsets.
Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s head of medicines management, Andy Cooke, said: “Pharmacies are an excellent alternative to visiting your GP or walk-in centre for healthcare advice and so we have arranged pharmacy cover throughout the Christmas period so that people can continue to use these important services every day of the year.”
The pharmacies’ opening times are as follows:
Arlesey Pharmacy will be open from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 6.15pm on Christmas Eve. It will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In Biggleswade Boots will be open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Christmas Eve. It will be closed on Christmas Day and open from 10am to 4pm on Boxing Day.
Jardines at the Saxon Centre will be open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm on Christmas Eve but will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Lloyds Pharmacy in Biggleswade Market Square will be open from 8.30am to 6pm on Christmas Eve and the High Street one will be open 9am to 5.30pm. Both will be shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The town’s Sainsbury’s in-store pharmacy will be open from 6am to 6pm on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day and open from 10am to 5pm on Boxing Day.
Langford Pharmacy will be closed on all three days.
Lloyds Pharmacy in Potton will be open from 9am to 6pm on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In Sandy the Lloyds Pharmacy at 4 Market Square will be open from 9am to 6pm on Christmas Eve and the one at 5 Market Square will be open from 8.30am to 6pm. Both will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Lloyds Pharmacy in Shefford will be open from 8.30am to 6.30pm on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
And finally Stotfold Pharmacy will be open from 9am to 4pm on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Andy added: “I would advise households to make sure they have basic medication in their first aid box over the Christmas period so that they can treat minor illnesses and injuries themselves.
“Simple painkillers, indigestion remedies, anti-diarrhoeal medicine, rehydration mixture, plasters and a thermometer are all available from local pharmacies with their advice.
“If you are on prescription medication then it is also a good idea to check that you have enough medication to last you through the Christmas period although there is no need to over order as surgeries and pharmacies will be open as normal on all other days.”
To see the opening times for other pharmacies in Bedfordshire and to view New Year opening times visit www.bedfordshireccg.nhs.uk
If you need medical advice over the Christmas period then you can visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Only call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency.