Health Chiefs across the Black Country and West Birmingham would like to give their thanks to pharmacists for all their recent efforts during the battle against Covid-19.

As part of the NHS-wide response to Coronavirus, hundreds of local pharmacies have provided an outstanding response to patients during these challenging circumstances.

As well as continuing to help people get their routine prescriptions, pharmacies have felt the effects of people trying to stock up, stayed open over the Easter Bank Holiday to support GP practices and provided support and reassurance to the customers they interact with on a daily basis. Dr Anand Rischie, Chair at NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group said:

“I would like to personally thank pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and their teams for their commitment to patients and the public during these unprecedented times.

"We recognise that community pharmacy teams on the frontline are providing an invaluable service to local people, as well as supporting local GPs by opening more pharmacies over the bank holiday period for those who need them."

With GPs open for business as usual again this May Bank Holiday, it's recognised local people will also need access to NHS pharmacy services on these days. Local pharmacies will be open from 2pm – 5pm on Friday 8 May however, some may be open longer.

For local pharmacy opening hours this Bank Holiday and to find the nearest pharmacy to you, visit nhs.uk.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the 111 coronavirus online service to find out what to do. To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.