Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday, September 19 is set to bring the UK’s public sector to a standstill with food banks and even hospital appointments set to be affected.

The government confirmed that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a national
bank holiday to “allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign”.

Supermarkets and pubs are set to shut while non-royal funerals, theatre performances and museums will close on the day.

Despite massive waiting lists and patients facing months of delays to their care, all non-urgent procedures will also be postponed at some NHS hospitals, according to openDemocracy

Thousands of patients have had their hospital appointments cancelled including those waiting on hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, maternity checks and some cancer treatments.

Several food banks in Stoke, Liverpool, Stockport, Bristol and London have also declared their intent to close during the period of public mourning.

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of 1,300 food banks said: “Food banks in our network run sessions on different days and at different times. Food banks are best placed to make the right decision for their communities and will ensure everyone who needs support can access it as they do with every bank holiday.

“As each food bank is an independent charity, we’d encourage people who need support to contact their local food bank to check their opening hours.”