Keep safe and well this Christmas
18 December 2025
Winter is always a busy season for the NHS, and not least this year with ongoing industrial action and a rise in respiratory illnesses.
Make sure you’re prepared and ready for the festive season, and help us to keep our Emergency Departments for those who really need them.
Christmas and New Year are times for celebration and relaxation – please make sure that you’re in the best possible position to have a happy and healthy time.
Make sure you’ve got your prescriptions
With many pharmacies closed for four days over Christmas, please check that you have enough medicine for the festive period.
It is important that people remember there will effectively be a ‘four-day weekend’ from 25 – 29 December this year and another three-day weekend from the 1-3 January.
If you have repeat prescriptions, help us help you and please check that you aren’t going to run out over the Christmas period.
Remember your local pharmacist
Many pharmacies offer a common ailments service and are able to provide some medicines free of charge for a range of conditions such as sore throats, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, and mouth ulcers without you having to see a doctor.
If you’re in urgent need of a pharmacist over Christmas, there will be a number of pharmacies open to help you out.
Find your local pharmacy holiday opening hours.
Use NHS 111
NHS 111 is available to everyone and is quick and convenient. It should be your first port of call if you feel under the weather, but are not sure what’s wrong or where to go.
Check your cupboards
It’s a good idea to make sure your medicine cabinet and first aid kit are up-to-date – that could go a long way to keeping you well at home.
Healthier Together app and website
The Healthier Together website is designed to help parents and guardians of young children, and there is an app too - it has features like being able to create a secure profile for your child, as well as easily check their symptoms if they're unwell and get advice on what to do and where to go next.
There is a lot of helpful information on the Healthier Together website, and you can download the app there too.
Oxfordshire Healthier Together
Minor Injuries Unit
If you need prompt advice or treatment for minor injuries, a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) could help you. You can get treatment at an MIU for deep cuts, eye injuries, broken bones, severe sprains, minor head injuries, minor burns or scalds, minor sports injuries.
Oxfordshire MIUs are located at Abingdon Community Hospital, Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley, and Witney Community Hospital.
