With another bank holiday weekend approaching, we would like to remind you to plan ahead so that you know where to get help and care should you or your families need it.
General Practices (GPs) are closed on bank holiday Monday (May 25) – and people should think about which NHS service is most appropriate if they become unwell.
Although some pharmacies will be closed over the bank holiday period, some will remain open to provide expert advice, over-the-counter treatments and emergency medication where appropriate.
Community pharmacies can provide expert advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, sore throats, earache and stomach upsets, often without the need for an appointment.
For urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, online or by phone, offering quick advice and directing patients to the most appropriate service.
Minor Injury Units (MIUs) are also available to treat non-life-threatening injuries such as sprains, minor fractures, burns and cuts, helping to reduce pressure on emergency departments.
Emergency departments (EDs) and 999 services should only be used for serious or life-threatening conditions, such as chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing or signs of a stroke.
Improvements being made to reduce waiting lists across our NHS Group have meant that our patients are waiting less time for their planned care.
Patients are having their tests and scans much quicker and hundreds more outpatient appointments and operations are taking place each month to ensure timely access to planned care and treatment.
This is such positive news and the dedication and commitment of our colleagues across the Group have contributed to these improvements.
At The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) transformation work has seen an additional 300 outpatient appointments each week; an increase in the use of available theatres – an additional 300 surgical procedures each month and improved access to tests and scans (diagnostics) – more than 86.4% of patients were seen within six weeks of referral.
The Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (ShropCom) focus efforts across services such as Musculoskeletal Services Shropshire and Telford (MSST) and Community Hospital Outpatients – improving productivity, digital initiatives and collaborative working with local health system partners.
We have much more still to do, but we have plans in place to reduce our waits further.
Also, helping to support elective recovery by improving patient care and creating vital additional capacity is the new pre-operative assessment centre at Sentinel Park on Whitchurch Road, Shrewsbury.
The service relocated in January 2026 to Sentinel Park, providing a modern, purpose-built facility designed to deliver care closer to home and reduce pressure on The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s (SaTH) hospital sites.
Since opening, the service has already supported more than 3,200 patients. This includes 2,224 patients attending pre-operative assessment appointments, both face to face and by telephone, alongside 1,058 patients attending for assessments.
The move has created a calmer and more efficient environment for both patients and staff away from a hospital setting, while freeing up valuable clinical space at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.