OVER the Christmas and New Year period your GP practice will be closed at the following times:
From 6.30pm on Monday (December 24) until 8am on Thursday, December 27; from 6.30pm on Friday, December 28 until 8am on New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31); and from 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve until 8am on Wednesday, January 2, 2008. Normal service will resume from that date.
If you require urgent medical attention over the holiday period that cannot wait until your GP practice is open please call 01244 343300
Extra Duty Chemists
Boots the Chemist Ltd, 47-55 Foregate Street, Chester open 11am-4pm Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
P Williams, 12 Upper Street, Chester open 11am -5pm Boxing Day and 12pm-6pm New Year’s Day
Swettenham, 4 The Parade, Chester open Christmas Day 12pm-1pm
WS Young Pharmacy, Heath Lane Medical Centre, Chester open Christmas Day 5:30pm-6:30pm
Moss Pharmacy, 48A HIgh Street, Frodsham open Boxing Day and New Year’s Day 11am - 12 noon
Hospital visiting
Countess of Chester 01244 365000
Call for details of individual ward opening times.
Emergency Dentists
Contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for details of emergency dentists.
Sexual Health Services
If you require urgent emergency contraception (the morning -after pill), outside of normal opening hours contact your local pharmacist or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
General Health Advice
NOT sure what to do about a health problem?
If you call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, you will reach a nurse-led helpline, offering confidential advice and information such as:
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk has launched a new Christmas Health Zone. Everything you need to know under one virtual roof!
The new zone (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/christmas) not only answers all the usual festive questions about how to cook a turkey correctly, drink within safe limits, cope with the extra stress and ‘weight watch’ but it also contains loads of vital information about how to look after yourself should you be unfortunate enough to be stricken down by flu or D&V.
The new ‘Christmas Health’ zone also gives invaluable advice on NHS out of hours services and how to get the necessary urgent and emergency help 24/7.
Four precautionary steps you need to take:
If you take regular medication make sure you have collected your repeat prescription in time for the festivities.
Make sure you know the opening times of your nearest pharmacy in case you need it in an emergency.
Stock up your medicine chest with first aid and simple remedies to treat minor complaints and accidents. This should include paracetamol and aspirin (aspirin should not be taken by children under 16 and people with asthma), anti-diarrhoeal medicines, rehydration mixture, indigestion remedy, travel sickness tablets, a thermometer , tweezers and sharp scissors as well as a selection of plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings.
If you are looking after babies and small children make sure you have paracetamol (for example Calpol) or ibuprofen syrups (or both) for children.
Church Services
St James, Church Of England
Sunday 23 December
6:30pm Festival of Carols and Ceremony of Light
Christmas Eve
7pm Carols round the tree
11:30pm MIdnight Communion
Christmas Day
8am Holy Communion
10:45am Christmas Family Service
11:45am Holy Communion
Roman Catholic Church, St. Werburgh’s
Christmas Eve
12:15pm Day Mass of Christmas Eve
6pm Children’s Mass of Christmas Eve
8pm Vigil Mass of CHristmas
Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
9am Day Mass of Christmas
10:45am Day Mass of Christmas
Methodist Church, Christleton
Sunday 23 December
6:30pm Carols by Candlelight
Christmas Day
10:30am All age worship
All Saints Church, Hoole
Sunday, 23rd December
9.00am - Holy Communion
10.45am - All Age Worship
6.30pm - Christmas Songs of Praise
Christmas Eve
9.00am - Holy Communion
5.00pm - Crib Service
11.30pm - Midnight Holy Communion
Christmas Day
9.00am - Holy Communion
10.45am - Christmas Family Celebration
Hoole United Reformed Church, Hoole Road, Chester
10:30am Holy Communion
Christmas Eve
11:30pm Holy Communion
Christmas Day
10am All ages service
Rail Travel
VIRGIN Trains is urging passengers to make sure they reserve their seats as soon as possible for travel during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
An intensive national programme of engineering work by Network Rail will mean substantial reductions in train services and extended journey times in many cases.
There will be no trains on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On December 27, 28, 29, and 30 there will be no direct services to or from London Euston with alternative services being provided either by other train companies or replacement coaches.
Customers are strongly advised to check travel details in advance by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk or phoning National Rail Enquiries (NRES) on 08457 48 49 50.
Tickets and reservations can be obtained by visiting www.virgintrains.com or calling 08457 222 333.
The nationalrail.co.uk website also shows up-to-the-minute information on any short-notice service alterations caused by adverse weather, for example.
It is recommended that customers check with the website or NRES before travelling.
Post and post offices
There will be no mail deliveries on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
For opening hours at post offices during the holiday period, phone the customer helpline, 08457 223344.
Buses
MOST bus companies will run normal services until between 7pm and 8pm on Christmas Eve with usual Sunday services earlier in the day.
The same situation applies for New Year’s Eve
There are no bus services on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
For more information, phone the Cheshire Travel Line on 01270 505350
Samaritans
IF YOU need someone to talk to Chester Samaritans are always there at the end of a phone.
You can call free on the national number on 08457 90 90 90 or use the local number The lines are manned 24 hours a day.
Emergency numbers
POLICE (other than emergencies): 0845 458 0000
AA 24-hour breakdown service: 08457 887766
RAC 24-hour breakdown service: 0800 096 0514
Electricity: 0800 111 999
Gas (escapes): 0800 111 999.
NWWA (water mains leak or bursts): 0345 462200.
Cheshire County Council
Highways (emergencies such as flooded roads, street lighting or dangerous trees) 01244 973475
Social Services - 01606 76611
Waste Collection
Chester City Council
Pink & Green Bag Amended Collection Dates
Below you can find all collection dates that have had to be amended to fit around public holidays.
Please note that there will be no change to the collections dates for Brown Wheelie Bins or Brown Sacks for Garden Waste.
The collections listed below will begin as early as 6.30am - December 22 to January 4
Refuse and pink & green bag collection
Householders are advised that there will be no refuse collection service on Monday 24, Tuesday 25 December and Tuesday 1 January 2008.
Normal Day - Revised Day
Monday 24 Dec - Saturday 22 Dec
Tuesday 25 Dec - Monday 24 Dec
Wednesday 26 Dec - Thursday 27 Dec
Thursday 27 Dec - Friday 28 Dec
Friday 28 Dec - Saturday 29 Dec
Monday 31 Dec - Monday 31 Dec
Tuesday 1 Jan - Wednesday 2 Jan
Wednesday 2nd Jan - Thursday 3 Jan
Thursday 3 Jan -Friday 4 Jan
Friday 4 Jan - Saturday 5Jan
Vale Royal Borough Council
There will be no brown bin collections between Monday 24 December and Friday 4 January. Normal collections will resume on week commencing 7 January ready for the recycling of real Christmas trees.
Recycling and domestic waste collections will not take place on Tuesday 25 December. Instead please place those containers scheduled for emptying out on Monday 24 December and they will be collected.
Domestic waste collections will not take place on Wednesday 26 December. Instead please place your container out for collection on Saturday 29 December. Two additional lilac coloured sacks will be provided for the extra household waste this change may create.
Recycling and domestic waste collections will not take place on Tuesday, 1 January. Instead please place those containers scheduled for emptying out on Monday 31 December and they will be collected.
As part of these changes it may be necessary to change your time of collection. Please ensure that all your containers are out by 7am on your scheduled collection day.
Only waste contained within your bin will be collected so o maximise space by recycling - additional bags of recycling will be collected, but please put them in carrier bags next to your usual recycling container.
Vale Royal Borough Council has produced stickers with details of the Christmas and New Year collection arrangements, which will be placed on refuse bins .
