WHEN most people will be spending time with their families on New Year's Day, Tony Hutchinson will kiss his wife and three daughters goodbye before heading out to help the sick.
For years, pharmacist Mr Hutchinson has played a vital role in keeping people safe and healthy over the festive season.
Owner of Witham Pharmacy in Hull, Mr Hutchinson and his team of nine work throughout the holidays to provide people with vital prescriptions, give advice and direct people to urgent medical care.
"The NHS is doing far more for people than it ever has done and that's why it's so overstretched," he said. "We're just trying to do our bit."
Pharmacists across East Yorkshire are stepping up to help ease the current pressure on Hull Royal Infirmary, which has seen increasing numbers of patients as well as more complex and serious cases.
With minor injuries units and out-of-hours service 111 attempting to take the strain, pharmacists are also playing a vital role in providing advice to worried patients, medicine for those who have lost or mislaid their tablets and over-the-counter remedies to prevent people having to sit for hours in the emergency department at Hull Royal Infirmary.
Most have NHS minor ailment services, allowing pharmacists to write prescriptions for a whole host of conditions including coughs, headaches, back pain, athlete's foot, indigestion and diarrhoea. And for those on benefits, over 65 or under 16, they will not need to pay.
On Christmas Day, Mr Hutchinson's pharmacy opposite North Bridge was open from 6pm to 9pm to help those in need. On New Year's Day, they'll be open from 3pm to 11pm.
"We always get people queuing out the door every year," he says. "People still need prescriptions and we were here to help.
"We get lots of people looking for antibiotics or those who have eaten or drunk too much. Last year, we had a dozen or more women looking for emergency contraception so we can help with that, too.
"Wherever possible, we try to deal with people there and then so they don't have to go anywhere else. But there have been occasions where we need to refer people to their GPs or to hospital.
"We all know the NHS is in difficulty and we do our best to sort out any problems."
As well as dispensing prescriptions, Witham Pharmacy also liaise with the GP walk-in centre at Wilberforce Health Centre in Story Street to sort out prescription problems. GPs check the pharmacy has the medication they require and, if not, the pharmacist works with the doctor to come up with a suitable alternative.
Qualifying in pharmacy in 1980, Mr Hutchinson has almost 35 years' experience in all kinds of medical complaints and conditions and has built up a strong service since opening his pharmacy in 2007.
"We've opened every single day since we started and we can give advice on minor ailments. For example, if someone brings in their child, providing they have their NHS number and their proof of exemption, we can give them Calpol for free.
"But then, at the other extreme, we had a man who came in and his blood pressure was dangerously high, so we sent him to the doctor and he was seen in five minutes. "
Across the city, Raymond Hall, who has 53 years' experience serving customers and runs his pharmacist's in Beverley Road, said people do not realise how much help their pharmacist can give them.
He said: "They say we are the gateway to the NHS and I think that's true.
"If people come to us first, we can direct them elsewhere if we can't look after them ourselves. "We can write prescriptions for a whole range of minor ailments and people will get them free if they're over or under a certain age or on benefits.
"If we can get all these patients filtered away from their GPs, it will leave them in a position to deal with the more serious stuff.
"If it's more serious, we can send them to their GPs with a letter and the GPs take that seriously as they know the patient has to be seen.
"People need to understand their pharmacists are there to help people with their headaches, indigestion and diarrhoea or whatever and they don't need to go to their doctors.
"It's not just the doctors and nurses who make up the NHS, we're here, too."
Pharmacies open on New Year's DayHengate Pharmacy: Manor Road Health Centre, Beverley, HU17 7BZ, from 11am to noon. Call 01482 868208.
Bridlington late-night pharmacy: 86 The Promenade, Bridlington YO15 2QL, from 9am to 9.30pm. Call 01262 400070.
Lloyds Pharmacy: Unit 6, Welton Road, Brough, HU15 1LZ, from 10am to 2pm. Call 01482 667371.
Coggrave Chemist: 86 Boothferry Road, Goole, DN14 6AD, from noon to 1pm. Call 01405 763282.
Stephen Bowling Dispensing Chemist: 85 Newbegin, Hornsea, HU18 1PA, from 11am to noon. Call 01964 532066.
East Riding Pharmacy: 16-20 St Augustine's Gate, Hedon, HU12 8EX, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 898973.
Asda Pharmacy: Bilton, Hull, HU11 4AL, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 818810.
Asda Pharmacy: Kingswood Retail Park, Hull, HU7 4HS, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 370810.
Asda Pharmacy: Mount Retail Park, Hull, HU9 2AH, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 483800.
Asda Pharmacy: Hessle Road, Hull, HU3 4PE, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 596610.
Lloyds Pharmacy: 253 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 2SE, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 211121.
Lloyds Pharmacy: 304 Marfleet Lane, Hull, HU9 5AQ, from 10am to 4pm. Call 01482 781825.
Sainsbury's Pharmacy: Sainsbury's Way, Hull, HU13 9EJ, from 10am to 5pm. Call 01482 562204.
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