Please remember to order your repeat prescriptions

Yorkshire’s NHS 111 service, which offers urgent health advice across the region, is reminding people to order and collect their repeat prescriptions ahead of the festive season. This is especially important since GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed or have limited hours during Christmas and New Year.

Every year, NHS 111 receives hundreds of calls from patients who have run out of their regular medication around this time. This not only causes unnecessary stress for patients but also increases the pressure on already busy urgent care and out-of-hours NHS services.

Mike Modder-Fitch, Head of Service Delivery and Quality for Integrated Urgent Care/NHS 111 at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (which oversees the NHS 111 service in Yorkshire and the Humber, Bassetlaw, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire), urges everyone to ensure they have enough medication to get through the festive break.

He said: “NHS 111 is always busy at this time of year and demand remains high over Christmas and New Year. We encourage anyone who needs repeat medication for long-term conditions to make sure they order and collect prescriptions before Christmas.

“It’s easy to forget in the build up to the holidays, but running out can lead to needless worry and problems when GP practices close for several days. Please check you have enough medication for the holiday period and remember to pack it if you’re visiting family or friends. By doing so, you’ll help both yourself and the NHS by easing the demand on urgent care services.”

Pharmacy First

In addition, people should be aware of the Pharmacy First scheme, which provides easy access to healthcare advice and treatments for minor ailments directly from their local pharmacy without the need for a GP appointment. Pharmacies are an essential part of healthcare, especially during the holiday season when GP appointments may be limited.

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

For more health advice on winter vaccinations and winter health, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/keep-warm-keep-well/