Stay healthy this Easter: Your essential guide to Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care Services

As the Easter holidays approach, health authorities in Northern Ireland are urging the public to familiarise themselves with the range of health and social care services available to ensure timely and appropriate care.

With GP practices closed on Monday, 21 April 2025, and Tuesday, 22 April 2025, residents are encouraged to choose the right service for their needs to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure quicker recovery.

Choosing the Right Service

Health officials advise that selecting the appropriate healthcare service based on symptoms is crucial. For mild or minor ailments, self-care remains the best approach. Common issues such as colds, sore throats, upset stomachs, and aches can often be managed with over-the-counter medications and rest.

The NI Direct symptom checker provides guidance on a range of conditions to help individuals make informed decisions.

For non-emergency health concerns, several services are available:

Community Pharmacies: Local pharmacists can provide advice and treatment for common conditions, recommend over-the-counter remedies, and refer patients to other healthcare professionals if needed. The Pharmacy First service is particularly useful for minor ailments.

Minor Injuries Units: These units treat non-life-threatening injuries, including sprains, bruises, broken bones, minor head injuries, burns, scalds, bites, and foreign bodies in the eyes or nose.

Some units operate a Phone First service, so individuals should check their local service details here before attending.

GP Out-of-Hours Service: For urgent medical care when GP surgeries are closed, the out-of-hours service is available. Contact details for local services can be found here.

NIPEARS Optometry Practices: For urgent eye problems, contact your local optometrist first. If the practice is closed and the issue cannot wait, visit the nearest hospital Emergency Department.

Emergency Care

For life-threatening emergencies, such as strokes, heart attacks, severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, or major trauma, always dial 999 immediately.

Emergency Departments provide the highest level of care for sudden and acute illnesses or severe injuries. However, they should only be used for critical cases to avoid overwhelming the system.

Current average waiting times and details of hospitals operating the Phone First service can be found on the NI Direct website.

Prescriptions and Dental Care

To avoid running out of medication over the holidays, individuals are reminded to order repeat prescriptions well in advance of GP practice closures.

For dental emergencies, patients registered with a dentist should contact their practice first to learn about out-of-hours arrangements. Unregistered patients can contact Emergency Dental Clinics (EDCs) directly, which will operate daily from Saturday, 19 April to Tuesday, 22 April 2025.

The EDC contact number is 028 2566 3510, with lines open from 8:00am to 12:00pm.

A dentist will triage calls, offering advice or arranging appointments for conditions such as dental swelling, trauma to teeth, uncontrolled post-extraction bleeding, or severe pain not relieved by over-the-counter medications.

Patients may need to travel for appointments due to high demand, and standard dental charges will apply. No one should attend an EDC without a pre-arranged appointment.

Social Care and Mental Health Support

For urgent social care needs that cannot wait until the next working day, the Regional Emergency Social Work Service is available at 028 9504 9999.

In mental health emergencies, the 24/7 Lifeline service can be reached free and confidentially at 0808 808 8000. Additional resources, including self-help guides, are available through Community Wellbeing NI.

Plan Ahead for a Healthy Easter

Health and social care leaders are encouraging the public to plan ahead to ensure a safe and healthy holiday period. By understanding which services are available and when to use them, residents can access care efficiently and help ease pressure on emergency departments.

For further information on health services, visit NI Direct or contact your local healthcare provider.