HEALTH chiefs have spent months of planning to ensure that services are ready to cope with what is certain to be a massive demand over the Christmas and Millennium holidays.
As well as hospital services, planners from health and social services have focused on people's everyday health needs which can often cause the most inconvenience at holiday times, such as visits to a local pharmacy or getting an appointment with a GP.
Joanna Wallace, chief executive of St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority, said: "We hope that everyone has a healthy holiday this Christmas and New Year. But if anyone should need a doctor or a pharmacist, we have planned to make sure there is one available in their area. Day or night, people will have access to a family doctor or pharmacist - that's a guarantee."
St Helens & Knowsley Health Authority has published details of Christmas and New Year opening times for local family doctor and pharmacy services. This information is available from NHS Direct, the new 24 hour nurse-led health advice line on 0845 46 47.
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