WITH Christmas and New Year fast approaching, Karen O’Brien, chief pharmacist for NHS England in the North West is reminding people to order their repeat prescriptions in good time to avoid running out of essential medication during the festive period.
Repeat prescriptions due to run out in the days over the Christmas and New Year period will need to be ordered by Monday, December 15 to ensure they can be dispensed and collected in time. Planning ahead will help reduce pressure on urgent care services and avoids unnecessary stress for people in the lead up to the bank holiday.
This will be even more important this year as winter pressures are already starting to take hold, flu cases are increasing, and with the industrial action planned by resident doctors between December 17 and 22 – all of which create additional challenges.
During last Christmas and New Year, NHS 111 saw huge increases in calls about repeat prescriptions. 3,595 calls were made to 111 by people who needed emergency medication over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays in 2024, rising from 2,317 calls during the same period in 2023.
Pharmacies will have limited opening hours over Christmas and New Year, and many will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and on New Years Day, making it more challenging to access medicines at short notice. Waiting and using emergency or urgent services over the break puts added pressure on already busy NHS services.
The region’s lead GP Dr Paula Cowan,added “If you take regular medications, for any health condition, and if you’re due a repeat prescription in the week leading up to Christmas or the New Year, please remember to request repeat prescriptions via your practice or the NHS app by Monday December 15.
“This enables your practice and pharmacy to have prescriptions ready in time which is particularly important ahead of Christmas and New Year. Please help us to help you and avoid any gaps in your medication and help ease pressure on the already busy NHS as we head towards one of our busiest times of year.”
Over Christmas and New Year, urgent and emergency care services will be open. The public should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency. For non-emergency health advice, people should use 111.nhs.uk as their first port of call. If you cannot access 111 online, please call 111.
