Health bosses have confirmed that some pharmacies in the area will be staying open this coming Easter break. 

As the weekend is bookended by the Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays, most pharmacies will close at the end of the day on Thursday April 14, and not reopen until Tuesday April 19. 

But Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commision Group (CCG) has confirmed that fourteen sites across the region will be available on Sunday April 17, with considerably more locations also staying open on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Dr Andrew Girdher, Clinical Chair and GP Partner at Box Surgery in Wiltshire, said: “Pharmacies play a vital role in helping to keep the local community well, which is why it’s fantastic that so many in our area will continue to be available this Easter.

“From people needing urgent on-the-day prescriptions to those who just want some quick and friendly advice, our pharmacies will be there to help, and what’s best is that most services are available without an appointment.

“Easter is always a busy time for the NHS, and we fully anticipate that the current levels of high demand, which our hospitals and minor injuries units are currently facing, will only increase over the next few days.

“People can support these already-stretched services by making use of the pharmacies staying open on the bank holidays and, wherever possible, managing minor illness and injury, including mild Covid-19 symptoms, at home.”

NHS 111 can also be used for less-urgent health concerns, with people able to access either the online version, or its telephone counterpart, and get tailored advice and information based on their individual specific symptoms.

Ahead of the break, people taking regular medication are being asked to check their current supply and, wherever necessary, order any additional items to cover the Easter period.

People should also check the opening times of their local pharmacies and, in the event that those nearby are closed, know which other sites in the area will be open.

Below are the opening hours for Swindon's pharmacies across the weekend.

The opening hours for all pharmacies in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire can be found online at www.bswccg.nhs.uk.

Good Friday

  • Asda Orbital, Abbey Meads - 10am-4pm
  • Morrisons, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick - 9am-6pm
  • Boots, Brunel Plaza - 9.30am-6pm
  • Tesco, Ocotal Way - 9am-1pm
  • Asda, West Swindon District Centre, Tewkesbury Way - 10am-4pm
  • Sparcells Pharmacy, Midwinter Close, Peatmoor - 4pm-7pm

Easter Saturday

  • Highworth Pharmacy, Sheep Street, Market Place - 9am-5pm
  • Shrivenham Pharmacy, High Street - 9am-1pm
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Royston Road, Park South - 9am-5pm
  • Rowlands Pharmacy, Colingsmead, Eldene - 9am-1pm
  • Asda Orbital, Abbey Meads - 8am-10pm
  • Boots, North Swindon District Centre, Orbital, Thamesdown Drive - 9.30am-1.30pm and 2.30pm-4pm.
  • Cohens Chemist, Abbey Meads Medical Center, Elstree Way, Haydon - 9am-midday
  • Home Ground Pharmacy, Thames Avenue - 5am-8pm
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Moredon Health Centre, Moredon Road - 9am-5.30pm
  • Morrisons, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick - 8.30am-1pm and 2pm-7pm
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Clive Parade, Cricklade Road - 9am-5pm
  • Swindon Pharmacy, Hawthorne Medical Centre, May Close - 8am-10.30pm
  • Boots, Greenbridge Retail Park - 8.30am-1.30pm and 2.30pm-8pm
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Covingham Square - 9am-5pm
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, St Margarets Chase, Highworth Road - 9am-1pm
  • Avicenna Pharmacy, Guildford Avenue, Lawn - 8.30am-midday
  • Boots, Wood Street, Old Town - 9am-1pm and 2pm-5.30pm
  • Boots, Brunel Plaza - 8am-6pm
  • Hawthorn Pharmacy, Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill - 9am-4pm
  • Tesco, Ocotal Way - 8am-8pm
  • Asda, West Swindon District Centre, Tewkesbury Way - 7am-9pm
  • Ashington Way Pharmacy, Westlea - 9am-1pm
  • Facechoice Pharmacy, Freshbrook Village Centre - 9am-midday
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Shaw Village Centre - 9am-1pm

Easter Sunday

  • Tawhill Pharmacy, Aiken Road, Taw Hill - 10am-1pm
  • Sparcells Pharmacy, Midwinter Close, Peatmoor - 3pm-6pm

Easter Monday

  • Asda Orbital, Abbey Meads - 10am-4pm
  • Morrisons, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick - 10am-4pm
  • Boots, Brunel Plaza - 10am-4pm
  • Tesco, Ocotal Way - 9am-1pm
  • Asda, West Swindon District Centre, Tewkesbury Way - 10am-4pm
  • Sparcells Pharmacy, Midwinter Close, Peatmoor - 4pm-7pm