GPs have been told they will be able to close on the bank holiday of the Queen's funeral.
NHS England has written to local bosses to inform them that they can shut - but need to make sure that patients can still access out-of-hours care.
However, it has been said that planned Covid booster vaccinations in care homes should still go ahead as planned.
GPs have slammed the decision. They claimed the planned bank holiday on Monday was coming at short notice, and would be a complete "nightmare" for practices.
In a letter sent to GPs yesterday, NHS England set out its "expectations" for ensuring there was ongoing access available to NHS primary care services, and how GPs will run when they're open again.
The letter in full read: "GP practices will be contractually able to close on this day for their core services as it is a confirmed bank holiday.
"ICBs will need to urgently work to ensure sufficient out-of-hours (Integrated Urgent Care) services capacity is in place during what would have been core hours to meet patients’ urgent primary medical care needs."
But it added that, "scheduled care home visits (which are a high priority for the [Covid autumn booster] programme)’ should be ‘maintained and delivered as planned’."
It said also advised GPs and providers: "We strongly encourage any clinics scheduled on that day to be maintained particularly where there is a high population need. Providers should discuss with their local commissioner any need to flex or condense hours to support providers."
The letter to hospitals - signed by NHS England's chief operating officer Sir David Sloman - added that NHS trusts should also implement a method to identify overseas visitors, and have plans to manage them and make sure they are charged "appropriately" during the bank holiday.
To add to more fury, the letter addressing GP access said practices would actually be contractually able to close their core services on Monday, as it's a confirmed bank holiday. It was signed by NHS England's director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery.
It also noted that areas must make up for cancelled appointments. It outlined that they could offer patients another appointment within two weeks, and make sure patients can pick up prescriptions in advance.
Health bosses will also need to work with dentists so patients can access urgent dental care and medicines, it added.
Meanwhile, another letter to hospitals NHS England said it expected a rise in patients not turning up for clinics.
Additionally, there have been reports of some hospitals in England, and other parts of the UK, cancelling routine treatments due to take place on the day of the funeral too.
