More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Christmas may be one of the most exciting times of the year but it can also be incredibly hectic and stressful.
There's so much to organise - food, presents, family outings, Christmas dos - the list goes on. So, to help out, we've put together a Christmas survival guide to make sure you get through the festive period in one piece.
What is the latest time I can send my Christmas post?
Christmas is the busiest time of the year for postal workers - 164 million parcels were handled by Royal Mail in the December trading period last year.
So, to make sure your presents get delivered before Christmas Day, it's important to post them by the recommended dates. These are:
- Wednesday, December 18 for second class mail
- Friday, December 20 for first class mail
- Monday, December 23 for special delivery
When will Royal Mail not be delivering?
Everyone needs a break over Christmas - especially postal workers who will have been mega busy making sure all our letters and parcels get to family and friends in time for the big day.
With this in mind, there will be no collection or deliveries on Wednesday, December 25 or Thursday, December 26 or New Year's Day.
But everything will be back to normal on January 2.
When are the last Amazon order deliveries?
Online shopping is becoming more popular every year with Amazon being one of the biggest web-based retailers out there.
It's important to know the last order dates otherwise you may be left handing out hugs instead of presents on Christmas Day.
On Amazon's website, the last order dates are as follows:
- Saturday, December 21 for free delivery
- Sunday, December 22 for standard delivery
- Monday, December 23 for one-day delivery
- Tuesday, December 24 for same-day delivery
The company highlights that last order dates are subject to product availability, cut-off times apply for each delivery option and to please check the product detail page when ordering.
What changes will there be to rail services?
A normal Tuesday service will operate on Christmas Eve for all Southeastern trains.
However, they will finish earlier, with no trains running after around 10pm.
No services will run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
On Friday, December 27, an amended weekday service will run with engineering work taking place between Ashford and Canterbury West. There will be no high speed services through Ashford International.
For the remaining days up until new year, there will be slight amendments to timetables with engineering work taking place in some areas. It is therefore advised to check online before you travel.
On New Year's Eve there will be additional trains after midnight into the early hours on some routes.
And on New Year's Day, a Sunday timetable will operate with engineering work taking place in several areas.
What changes will there be to bus times?
Arriva will bring in changes to timetables from Christmas Eve with many services finishing early and some journeys not running - click here to view the comprehensive list.
There will be no Arriva bus services on Christmas Day.
On Boxing Day, there will be a select few services - 1, 2, 101, 166, 483, 490 and 700 - running throughout the day, with exact locations and times available here.
On Friday, December 27, Monday, December 30 and New Year's Eve, Saturday timetables will apply, with several expections.
Lastly, on New Year's Day, Sunday timetables will apply, plus additional services running between Chatham and Bluewater (number 700).
Stagecoach will run a normal Tuesday school holiday service on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve with some early finishes.
No Stagecoach buses will run on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
There will be a select few services running in Thanet, Canterbury and Herne Bay and Folkestone and Hythe on Boxing Day.
When will supermarkets be open?
While some people plan well in advanced for the festive period, many will leave it to the last minute to buy food and drink for the big day, or eat so much that a restock is needed between Christmas Day and New Year.
To keep panic down to a minimum, we've rounded up the opening times for four of the biggest supermarket chains in Kent.
When can I go late night shopping and will there be any special parking arrangements?
We all know that frantic dash around the shops before they shut on Christmas Eve - so we have built a guide for late night shopping hours, special parking arrangements and other events across Kent in the run up to the big day.
It is divided up by region to make it easy for you to find out information about the area you live and start planning your final shopping trips.
What shall I do if I feel ill over Christmas?
With the colder weather now upon us, Kent's NHS trusts are offering some advice on how to keep safe and healthy during the festive period.
Medway NHS trust and Maidstone and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust advice
In recent weeks, it has not been unusual for more than 500 to visit Medway's emergency department in one day alone.
To keep waiting times as short as possible at both Medway and also Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, the trusts are offering some simple advice to help people stay well this winter:
- Cold weather can weaken the immune system, especially for people aged 65 or older, so don't put off getting the flu vaccination. If you're eligible, get it
- If you are starting to feel unwell, even if it is just a cough or cold, don’t wait until it gets more serious, get help from your pharmacist
- Don’t forget to pick up your prescription before the Christmas holidays start. Many GPs and pharmacies will close for a short while
- If you do need help over the holiday period when your GP surgery or pharmacy is closed, call NHS 111 or visit the NHS website to find a local service that is open
- It's important to keep warm so try to heat your home to at least 18C if you can
- Check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives throughout the winter
East Kent NHS trust advice
In the east Kent region, an extra appointment service will be running over the festive period, some even available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
People can also book an evening or weekend appointment to see a GP, nurse or other health professional, all by calling their usual GP practice but the appointment may not be at your usual practice.
For a minor injury, such as sprain, burn or back injury, people can use one of the six minor injury units in east Kent.
Canterbury minor injury unit is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The minor injury units at Deal, Dover, Herne Bay, Faversham, Folkestone and Whitstable are open every day between 8am and 8pm but the X-ray units function for shorter times and for different period depending on the unit.
In this part of the county, the WaitLess app is available which allows people to check waiting times at urgent care centre, along with travel information, to help you decide where to go if you need medical assistance.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust advice
With a very busy emergency department, the trust asks people to help keep it free for those who really need it.
Remember there are a full range of NHS services available besides A&E, and you can also call 111 to get advice before even leaving your house.
You can also :
- Visit your GP
- Find health advice on the NHS website
- Visit your local pharmacist
- Go to a walk-in centre if you have an urgent concern
Gravesend GP walk-in centre at Whitehorse Surgery is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.
Minor injuries units can assess and treat cuts, sprains, minor burns, minor dislocations of the fingers and toes, minor eye injuries and remove foreign bodies from, for example, ears and noses.
Gravesham Community Hospital is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
To treat conditions such as minors cuts, burns, sprains or infections and more you can visit the urgent care centre at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. This is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Erith urgent care centre is open Monday to Sunday 8.00am to 10.00pm (last patient 8pm).
To find your nearest open pharmacy, click here
If you need medical help fast and your GP surgery is closed, you can call NHS 111 at any time of day or night.
