PHARMACIES, dentists and opticians around Wiltshire will be at hand to help over the festive period as the main NHS services shut down.

A NHS spokesman said: “Our staff will be reminding patients to to collect their December prescriptions early where they can, and will be contacting patients in the days leading up to the bank holidays to collect prescriptions waiting in the pharmacy.

“We will be encouraging GP surgeries to send electronic prescriptions over promptly on Christmas and New Year's Eve.

“Our staff will work with pharmacies and GP surgeries over buddying arrangements during unexpected bad weather and notify NHS England as soon as possible of unscheduled closures.”

Over the holiday period, pharmacies will be open as normal apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Pharmacies which will remain open on Christmas Day are Trowbridge Health Centre, Seymour Road from 3-5pm, Westbury White Horse Health Centre from 12-2pm, Porch Surgery Corsham from 3-5pm and Well Pharmacy, Calne High Street from 11am-1pm.

On Boxing Day pharmacies open are Boots in Chippenham High Street and Marlborough High Street from 10am-4pm, Lloyds in Sainsburys, Chippenham from 9am-7pm and Melksham 9am-5pm, Morrisons in Chippenham and Devizes from 10am-4pm, Asda in Melksham from 9am-6pm, Boots in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge from 8am-5pm, The Brittox in Devizes and Warminster Market Place from 10am-4pm.

On New Year's Day pharmacies open are Boots in Chippenham and Marlborough from 10am-4pm, Lloyds in Sainsburys, Chippenham from 9am -5pm and Melksham 9am-5pm, Morrisons in Chippenham and Devizes from 10am-4pm, Asda, Melksham 10am-5pm, Boots in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge from 10.30am-4.30pm and The Brittox in Devizes and Warminster Market Place from 10am-4pm,

For opticians services, patients should check opening times with their usual practice, or call 111. Patients registered with a dentist should do the same, as answer machines will provide details about how to contact an on-call dentist for urgent treatment.

An emergency clinic for dental pain will remain open in Chippenham Community Hospital, Rowden Hill on Christmas Day from 9am-12pm, and Boxing Day and New Year's Day from 1pm-4pm. Appointments can be made by calling 111.