Scheduled care home Covid-19 booster visits are to be carried out as planned on the day of the Queen’s funeral.

A bank holiday has been declared on 19 September with the nation pausing as the Queen is laid to rest.

The Queen is to be buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle following a service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

NHS England has said GP services will be able to close during the day although adequate provision must be made for out-of-hours care.

Letters to NHS bosses said scheduled Covid-19 booster visits must also go ahead as planned.

An NHS spokesperson said: “As with any Bank Holiday, NHS staff will work to ensure that urgent and emergency services, including urgent dental and GP appointments, are available — and patients will be contacted by their local trusts, if necessary, regarding their existing appointments.

“Covid vaccination services, particularly in care homes, are being asked to continue their work given the importance of protecting people ahead of winter and the public should access NHS services in the usual way, including through 111 online or 999 in an emergency.”

Care homes residents were the first to receive their Covid-19 boosters as the vaccination programme got under way in England and Scotland at the beginning of this month.

NHS England has incentivised GPs to prioritise care home residents for boosters with payments of up to £525 for those care homes completed by 23 September.

The BMA has refused to endorse the programme, however, arguing that insufficient resources and funding have been provided for GPs.