Please remember to order your repeat prescriptions

Yorkshire’s NHS 111 service, which provides urgent healthcare advice across the region, is reminding people to order and collect the repeat prescriptions they need for the festive period before GP surgeries and pharmacies close or operate for limited hours during Christmas and New Year.

The NHS 111 service receives hundreds of calls at this time of year from patients who have run out of their regular medication, and this can lead to unnecessary worry for them and increase pressure on busy urgent care and out-of-hours NHS services.

Usha Kaushal, Integrated Urgent Care/NHS 111 Lead Pharmacist at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which runs the NHS 111 service in Yorkshire and the Humber, Bassetlaw, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, is reminding people to make sure they have sufficient stocks of their medicines to last them over the festive break.

She said: “The NHS 111 service remains busy at this time of year and will continue to be in high demand over the Christmas and New Year period, so we’re asking those people who need repeat medication to manage long-term conditions to order and collect their prescriptions before Christmas.

“In the build-up to the holidays, it’s very easy to forget and this can result in unnecessary anxiety and issues once GP practices close for a few days.

“Please check your medication stocks to ensure you have sufficient to see you through Christmas and the New Year. It’s also important to remember to pack them if you are planning to visit friends and family.

“Not only will you be helping yourself, you’ll also be helping the NHS by reducing pressure on busy urgent care services.”

Patients can order repeat prescriptions via their GP surgery, or by logging into their NHS account, using the NHS App or the NHS website.

 Check out health advice on treating common winter illnesses on the NHS website at  http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Winterhealthrisks.aspx