A number of GP practices and other NHS services will stay open over the Easter bank holidays to help support those who need urgent advice or care.

Doctors surgeries normally close on Good Friday and Easter Monday but this year all practices will be open as usual.

While some practices may close from 4.30pm on both days, the GP out of hours service will be available from that time for those practices.

Pharmacies will also continue to be open over the bank holidays, but people are urged to contact the pharmacy directly to check the precise opening times.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, GP and Chief Clinical Officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System, said: "We know that this is a really difficult time for everyone, particularly for those with ongoing health conditions.

"It’s important that people know their GPs are there to support them over the bank holiday weekend this year.

"During the next few months people will continue to need help with lots of different health problems that aren’t to do with coronavirus.

"If you need advice or care from your GP practice, then please get in touch by phone first – please don’t visit the practice without speaking to them first.

"We might be able to give you advice over the phone or using a video conferencing system, but if your GP or nurse decides that you do need to see someone face to face, they will still arrange an appointment for you – either at your own practice, or another one near to where you live.

"You can also do lots of things online, like ordering repeat prescriptions.

"If you don’t yet have GP online services but would like to use them, visit your GP practice website for more details about how to set this up.”

Anyone needing urgent medical help over the bank holidays or anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms - a high temperature or a new, continuous cough – who needs medical advice, should call 111 or use the dedicated NHS 111 coronavirus service online at 111.nhs.uk/COVID-19.

You should only call NHS 111 if you can’t get help online.

If people have a routine appointment booked with either their GP practice or another health service at either a hospital or health centre, they should speak to them before attending, to check if it is still going ahead.

When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, people should call 999 immediately, just as they normally would - especially if they think that they or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke – every second counts with these conditions.

Updated pharmacy opening times are available on the CCGs websites: East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.