Get the care you need this Christmas: advice on NHS opening times over the festive period

We all depend on our local health and care services through the year, but their staff also need a break over the holiday period, so that they can spend time with loved ones.

General practices

Your general practice is likely to be closed on some days, usually Christmas Day (Monday 25 December), Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Monday 1 January).  These are all public holidays.

Your practice will usually provide information, either on its website or answerphone message, about its opening hours at this time of year.  To find your practice’s website or phone number, please click here.

Remember that your local pharmacy is an excellent source of health advice from trained, professional staff, who can recommend remedies for a wide range of illnesses and injuries. You can walk in for instant help. Some pharmacies will even be open on Christmas Day: see the list below.

If you think you may need to speak to a doctor or nurse or, if you just want peace of mind, why not visit 111 Online and provide details of your symptoms.  They will direct you to the most appropriate place, and can even arrange for someone to call you to get more details, if necessary.

Please don’t go to A&E unless it’s a genuine emergency which threatens life or limb.  You can help us to ensure that care goes to those who most need it this Christmas and New Year.

If you need a repeat prescription, please make sure you order it in plenty of time. You can save time and effort by downloading the NHS App and ordering your repeat prescription from the comfort of your own home.

Pharmacies

During the holiday period, it may be more difficult to get an appointment with your practice.  You can prepare to care for yourself or loved ones by keeping a range of simple medicines and first aid supplies at home. Check the advice on nhs.uk on what you might keep in a first aid kit at home (and remember always to keep it locked and out of the reach of children!)

You may be able to get relief from your symptoms by talking to a local pharmacist, who can advise on managing lots of minor illnesses and injuries.  You can find your local pharmacy and its opening hours here.

A small number of pharmacies will be open on Christmas Day: their details are below.  (All listings are correct at the time of publication.  If you will be travelling a long way to visit, you may wish to call ahead to make sure they are open.)

On other days over the Christmas and New Year period, please visit nhs.uk’s Find a Pharmacy page, search for your location and filter the results by ticking the box marked ‘Show only services open now’.

PHARMACIES OPENING ON MONDAY 25 DECEMBER (CHRISTMAS DAY)

Bedford Borough

• Jardines Pharmacy, 107 Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7QF (11:30am – 2:30pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 245 Bedford Road, Kempston MK42 8BP (3:00 – 6:00pm)

Central Bedfordshire

• Grovebury Pharmacy, Enterprise Court, Leighton Buzzard LU7 4SZ (10:00am – 2:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 17 Market Square, Potton SG19 2NP (1:30 – 5:30pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 5 Kingsfield Road, Saxon Centre, Biggleswade SG18 8AT (10:00am – 2:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 7 High Street, Shefford SG17 5DD (9:00am – 1:00pm)
• Titan Pharmacy, 17-18 Bedford Square, Houghton Regis LU5 5ES (9:00am – 1:00pm)

Luton

• Acorn Pharmacy, 138 Dallow Road, Luton LU1 1NE (9:00am – 12:00noon)
• Biscot Pharmacy, 157A Biscot Road, Luton LU3 1AW (10:00am – 6:00pm)
• Dr Pharmacy, 351 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8BY (9:00am – 11:00pm)
• Halfway Pharmacy, 731 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 0DU (10:00am – 2:00pm)
• Moakes Pharmacy, Marsh Farm Shopping Centre, The Moakes, Luton LU3 3FH (1:30 – 5:30pm)
• Rank Pharmacy, 138 Leagrave Road, Luton LU4 8HX (3:00 – 6:00pm)

Milton Keynes

• Jardines Pharmacy, The Square, Wolverton MK12 5DG (8:00 – 11:00am)
• Jardines Pharmacy, Dorset Way, Whitehouse, Milton Keynes MK8 1EQ (11:30am – 2:30pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, Montague Crescent, Brooklands Milton Keynes MK10 7LN (3:00 – 6:00pm)
• Queensway Pharmacy, 143 Queensway, Bletchley MK2 2DY (10:00am – 2:00pm)

PHARMACIES OPENING ON TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER (BOXING DAY)

Bedford Borough

• Boots the Chemists, Interchange Retail Park, Ampthill Road, Bedford MK42 7AZ (11:00am – 2:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 107 Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7QF (9:00am – 1:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 245 Bedford Road, Kempston MK42 8BP (9:00am – 12:00 noon)

Central Bedfordshire

• Asda Pharmacy, Court Drive, Dunstable LU5 4JD (10:00am – 4:00pm)

Luton

• Asda Pharmacy, Wigmore Lane, Stopsley, Luton LU2 9TA (10:00am – 4:00 pm)
• Biscot Pharmacy, 157A Biscot Road, Luton LU3 1AW (10:00am – 6:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, 82-86 The Arndale Centre, Luton LU1 2BG (11:00am – 5:00pm)
• Dr Pharmacy, 351 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8BY (9:00am – 11:00pm)

Milton Keynes

• Asda Pharmacy, Bletcham Way, Milton Keynes MK1 1QB (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, 18 Crown Walk, Secklow Gate West, Milton Keynes MK9 3AH (9:00am – 6:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, Westcroft Retail Park, Milton Keynes MK4 4DD (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, Winchester Circle, Kingston, Milton Keynes MK10 0BA (10:00am – 4:00pm)

PHARMACIES OPENING ON MONDAY 1 JANUARY (NEW YEAR’S DAY)

Bedford Borough

• Jardines Pharmacy, 107 Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7QF (10:00am – 2:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 245 Bedford Road, Kempston MK42 8BP (9:00am – 12:00 noon)

Central Bedfordshire

• Asda Pharmacy, Court Drive, Dunstable LU5 4JD (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• Jardines Pharmacy, 17 Market Square, Potton SG19 2NP (9:00am – 1:30pm)

Luton

• Asda Pharmacy, Wigmore Lane, Stopsley, Luton LU2 9TA (10:00am – 4:00 pm)
• Biscot Pharmacy, 157A Biscot Road, Luton LU3 1AW (10:00am – 6:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, 82-86 The Arndale Centre, Luton LU1 2BG (11:00am – 5:00pm)
• Dr Pharmacy, 351 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8BY (9:00am – 11:00pm)

Milton Keynes

• Asda Pharmacy, Bletcham Way, Milton Keynes MK1 1QB (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, 18 Crown Walk, Secklow Gate West, Milton Keynes MK9 3AH (10:00am – 5:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, Westcroft Retail Park, Milton Keynes MK4 4DD (10:00am – 4:00pm)
• Boots the Chemists, Winchester Circle, Kingston, Milton Keynes MK10 0BA (10:00am – 4:00pm)