Help us Help You
Across the region there are a range of health services to support people if they feel unwell or have any health concerns. There are services which you may be unfamiliar with but could be more appropriate and convenient for you depending on your specific issue.
Pharmacy Services
Several pharmacies will be open throughout the Christmas bank holiday period and the best way to find out which pharmacy is open and when, is to visit the CCG’s website and check out their Twitter and Facebook pages for on the day updates.
Your local pharmacy can offer free, confidential and expert advice on a range of health issues. They can also help you to self-care and prepare for many common winter illnesses and offer advice on which medicines to keep in stock at home.
Christmas and New Years pharmacy times are available here –
Please note that these times are subject to change, check with your local pharmacy by calling them before you visit them on the Bank Holiday’s below.
| PHARMACY – Times are subject to change and accurate as of 21 December 2020 | CHRISTMAS DAY | BOXING DAY | 28 DECEMBER 2020 | NEW YEAR’S DAY |
| Aspire Pharmacy, 9 Railway Road, Ormskirk, L39 2DN – 01695 580 022 | 10am – 6pm | 7am – 10pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 55 Westgate, Skelmersdale, WN8 8LP – 01695 723 566 | CLOSED | 9am – midday | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Trust Pharmacy, 5 Station Road, Hesketh Bank, PR4 6SN – 01772 814 098 | 10am – 1pm | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Fishlocks Pharmacy, 60 Liverpool Road North, Burscough, L40 4BY – 01704 894 391 | CLOSED | 8.30am – 9.30pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Morrisons Pharmacy, Park Road, Ormskirk, L39 3RB – 01695 573 289 | CLOSED | 9am – 5pm | 10am – 4pm | 10am – 4pm |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 21 Lyndale, Ashurst, Skelmersdale, WN8 6UJ – 01695 731 518 | CLOSED | 9am – midday | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 22 Moss Delph Lane, Aughton, L39 5DZ – 01695 421 262 | CLOSED | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 38 Burscough Street, Ormskirk, L39 2ES – 01695 574 118 | CLOSED | 9am – 11.30am | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 115 County Road, Ormskirk, L39 1NL – 01695 580 564 | CLOSED | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 24 Mark Square, Tarleton, PR4 6TU – 01772 812 619 | CLOSED | 9am – 1.30pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Rowlands Pharmacy, 1 Dingle Road, Upholland, WN8 0EN – 01695 622 446 | CLOSED | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| O’Briens Pharmacy, 37 Liverpool Road North, Burscough, L40 0SA – 01704 893 179 | CLOSED | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Asda Pharmacy, Ingram, Skelmersdale, WN8 6LA – 01695 567 010 | CLOSED | 7am – 10pm | 9am – 6pm | 10am – 5pm |
| O’Briens Pharmacy, 6 Mill Lane, Burscough, L40 5TJ – 01704 892 275 | CLOSED | 9am – 11.30am | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| J Halton, 11 The Common, Parbold, Wigan, WN8 7HA – 01257 462 277 | CLOSED | 9am – 1pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
| Boots, 3B Moor Street, Ormskirk, L39 2AA – 01695 578 360 | CLOSED | 9am – 5.30pm | CLOSED | 9am – 5.30pm |
| Boots, 20 The Concourse, Skelmersdale, WN8 6ND – 01695 725 339 | CLOSED | 10am – 4pm | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Managing your prescriptions
In West Lancashire you can manage your repeat prescription by contacting the POD. Please note the POD do not order prescriptions on behalf of Parbold Surgery, Hall Green Surgery and Beacon Primary Care, please contact these surgeries direct to order your repeat prescription.
The POD is available Monday to Friday, from 8.30am – 11.30am and from 2.30pm – 4.30pm by calling 01695 588 522. The team can be contacted to order prescriptions. If you require a GP appointment, please contact your GP practice. The POD will however be closed on the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.
If you prefer you can also manage your repeat prescription by using the FREE Patient Access website and/or smartphone app, simply search ‘patient access’, on your smartphone or visit www.patientaccess.com and contact your GP surgery for registration details. If using Patient Access for the very first time, you will first have to contact your GP practice so that you can register to use the app.
NHS.UK
You can find a wealth of trusted advice about hundreds of health conditions and details of GPs, pharmacies in your local area by visiting www.nhs.uk. This useful website also includes a handy symptom checker.
You can also get the NHS App on the app store or google play. The NHS App is the simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone and tablet.
NHS 111
When you need medical help or advice fast, but it is not a 999 emergency, you can also call the NHS 111 service on freephone 111. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and calls are free from mobiles and landlines. You can also access NHS 111 online, by visiting www.111.nhs.uk.
NHS 111 will direct you to the right health service for you, which could include a walk-in centre, a pharmacy, or a booked time slot at a hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department. Remember, you should still dial 999 for a medical emergency, such as a suspected stroke or heart attack.
If you need medical care for illnesses you cannot treat yourself, then your GP should be your next port of call.
Your Local GP
Your GP should be your first point of contact for non-emergency illnesses you can’t treat yourself. A GP will be available from 8.00am to 6.30pm weekdays (local GP practice times may vary). If you don’t have a GP, you can register with your local surgery.
The way you access your GP has changed to keep you and practice staff safe from coronavirus. So, please contact your practice by telephone, via its website or the NHS App. Your GP will then assess you by phone or video to decide next steps, and you will be offered a face to face appointment if you need it.
If you’re not sure where this is, you can find out at: www.nhs.uk or call 0300 311 22 33.
Don’t delay in seeking advice about healthcare concerns from your practice.
GP Out of Hours Service
You can still speak to a GP even after your practice has closed by using the GP out-of-hours service. To access this service, simply call NHS 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk.
Walk-in Centre and Urgent Treatment Centre
To get help for minor illnesses and minor injuries the Skelmersdale Walk-in Centre (The Concourse, Skelmersdale, WN8 6LJ) and the West Lancashire Urgent Treatment Centre (formally referred to as West Lancashire Walk-in Centre) in Ormskirk (Ormskirk Hospital, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, L39 2AZ) operate seven days a week from 8am until 8pm, including Bank Holidays (Christmas Day times do vary).
Appointments must be made by phone in advance before attending to help keep patients and staff safe. Both centres can be contacted on 01695 402 180.
When you call, your problem may be dealt with by phone or video consultation, or a clinician may make an appointment for you or your loved one at an appropriate location following a telephone consultation.
| Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day in Lieu (28 December 2020) | New Year’s Day | |
| Ormskirk | 9am – 5pm | 8am – 8pm | 8am – 8pm | 8am – 8pm |
| Skelmersdale | 10am – 2pm | 8am – 8pm | 8am – 8pm | 8am – 8pm |
Times are subject to change. Please check with your respective centre when calling in advance of attending.
Mental Health support
If you are feeling anxious, depressed or simply need some to talk to, help is there.
You can contact Mindsmatter, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm on 01695 684 177 or online: www.lscft.nhs.uk/mindsmatter2-self-referral
Mindmsatter will not be open on the Christmas Bank Holiday’s but you can contact the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on freephone 116 123.
Dental
For emergency treatment when your dentist is closed, call 0300 1234 010.
Think you have coronavirus?
If you have any coronavirus symptoms:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
Get a test and stay at home.
If you need medical advice about your symptoms visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
There are two testing sites at Westgate, Skelmersdale and the tennis courts at Edge Hill, Ormskirk. The sites are open seven days a week from 8am – 8pm. However, times over the Christmas Bank Holiday’s will vary.
| Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Boxing Day in Lieu (28 December 2020) | New Year’s Day | |
| Westgate | 9am – 3pm | 8am – 8pm | 9am – 3pm | 9am – 3pm |
| Edge Hill | 9am – 3pm | 8am – 8pm | 9am – 3pm | 9am – 3pm |
Bank Holiday opening times are subject to change.
Further information is available online: www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/testing-sites-for-coronavirus
Dr Gregory continues: “If you are not sure what to do and need medical advice fast, call NHS 111 or go to NHS 111 online. You will be assessed, given advice, and directed straightaway to the local service that can best meet your needs, including a GP if you need one. If you are in a life-threatening situation or emergency such as choking, chest pain, or having severe difficulty in breathing, call 999 straight away.
“As the restrictions change and some families form Christmas bubbles of up to three households between 23 and 27 December it’s important that we don’t un-do all of our hard work and we continue to wash hands, cover our face and make space to limit the spread of the virus and protect loved ones, particularly if they are vulnerable.”
If you have any Coronavirus symptoms – such as a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a change or loss to your taste or smell then self-isolate and book test as soon as possible. You can book a test online or by calling 119.
Your local health services:
To find your local pharmacy, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/find-a-pharmacy