Yorkshire’s NHS 111 service is reminding people to order and collect their repeat prescriptions before GP surgeries and pharmacies close for the Christmas and New Year holiday.
Hundreds of patients call NHS 111 during the festive season because they have run out of their regular medication and this can lead to unnecessary worry for themselves and increase pressure on busy urgent care and out-of-hours NHS services.
Dr Eithne Cummins, GP and Clinical Director for Integrated Urgent Care 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 encouraging people to make sure they have sufficient stocks of their medication to last them over the festive break.
She said: “The NHS 111 service will be very busy over the Christmas and New Year period, so we’re reminding those people who need repeat medication to manage long-term conditions to order and collect their prescriptions before Christmas. In the busy build-up to the holidays, it’s easy to forget and this can lead to problems once GP practices close for a few days.
“If you think you might need to replenish your medication stocks to see you through Christmas and the New Year, please save yourself the worry and re-order your prescription while there is still plenty of time for it to be processed and dispensed.
“Not only will you be helping yourself, you’ll also be helping the NHS by reducing pressure on busy urgent care services over the festive period.”
Patients can also order repeat prescriptions via the NHS App on their smartphone or tablet by visiting www.nhs.uk/nhsapp
Check out health advice on treating common winter illnesses on the NHS website at http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/Winterhealthrisks.aspx
