Local NHS bosses have agreed a £30k deal to ensure people can access a pharmacy over Christmas.

In previous years, commissioners have relied on the goodwill of community pharmacies to remain open during public and bank holidays. 

However, from last year, a select number were funded by NHS Norfolk and Waveney to make sure it was financially viable for them to open.

The organisation has now agreed to a new £30,000 package to commission ten sites to open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day in 2025.

Its decision comes after figures revealed a significant increase in the number of people relying on pharmacies each public holiday.

On Christmas Day last year, around 700 people accessed the ten pharmacies bosses commissioned to open, with around 1,000 visiting them on Boxing Day.

However the Easter holidays saw close to 1,200 attend a pharmacy on the Sunday and Monday respectively, while the early May bank holiday saw nearly 1,700 people use the services.

This rise, bosses say, justified the decision to continue funding the scheme.

Sharon Gardner, head of primary care commissioning at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, wrote in a report: "The May spring bank holiday saw 1,699 patients contact the pharmacy in some form, either in person or over the phone.

"This is potentially 1,699 patients that have not had to access NHS 111 or present at our A&E departments for their healthcare needs."

She said that bosses were expecting this upward trend to continue, as patients continue to be encouraged to think "pharmacy first".

Since January, patients have been able to visit a pharmacy rather than a GP for a range of conditions including sore throat, earache and impetigo.

It has not been confirmed which ten pharmacies will be included in the new scheme, but for the August bank holiday the following were opened:

  • Total Care Pharmacy, Hellesdon
  • The Clock Pharmacy, King's Lynn
  • Dereham Pharmacy, Commercial Road
  • Church Street Pharmacy, Cromer
  • David Jagger, Wells-next-the-Sea
  • Grove Pharmacy, Thetford
  • St Stephen's Gate, Norwich
  • High Street, Lowestoft
  • Roys, Wroxham
  • Queen Street, Southwold