What to expect from the NHS on the day of the Queen’s funeral

The Queen’s funeral on Monday will be a national bank holiday
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NHS North East and Cumbria have ensured the public that as many NHS services as possible will be running on Monday, September 19 - the day of Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral.

Dr Neil O’Brien, Medical Director for NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: "Monday will be a difficult and emotional day for many of us as we pay our respects to Her Majesty, and the NHS will be there to support people who need our care.

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"The Queen’s funeral on Monday 19 September will be a national bank holiday, and our NHS organisations are working hard to maintain as many services as possible to minimise any impact on patients, and prioritising cancer and urgent activity."

Although the NHS will be in mourning and paying their respects to the Queen, NHS services such as Covid-19 and flu vaccine clinic and most hospital appointments will still go ahead. The NHS have told patients to still attend hospital appointments booked for Monday - unless they have been notified otherwise.

Most GP practices however, will be closed but urgent healthcare will still be available through 111, or normal out-of-hours primary care services. Patient transport services will still be available.

Patients have been asked to check their supply of prescription medication to ensure they do not run out during the period of closure. However, there will be some pharmacies open on the day, which you can find on the NHS website, if a patient does run out of medication.

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"We are here for you if you need us, but emergency care services are already very busy," added Dr O’Brien. "If you need healthcare, please use 111 online services or your practice’s out of hours service first, and help us keep A&E for people who need it most.

"Monday will be a difficult day for many people, but especially so if you have recently been bereaved. You can find details of helplines, mental health or bereavement support services at www.nhs.uk, www.signpostnenc.co.uk or from local NHS websites.

"Staff and patients in our region’s hospitals are invited to observe the national moment of reflection in their own way, whether that be on a ward or in their home or community."