Posted on: 13 December 2017
Being ill is never fun, especially over a holiday period; that’s why people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate are being urged to make sure they order any repeat prescriptions they need ahead of the bank holidays.
Forgetting to get repeat prescriptions puts a lot of pressure on out-of-hours services over bank holidays when people realise they have run out of their regular medication and need to get more supplies urgently.
Patients are being asked to contact their GP as soon as possible if they need regular medicines to last over the bank holidays.
The message is simple: if you have a repeat prescription, please check that you have enough to last over the days that your GP practice is closed. That way you don’t risk getting ill if you run out or have to take up an out-of-hours GP’s time to issue another prescription.
Don’t forget that pharmacies will be open over the weekends and some will be open on the bank holidays.
Your local pharmacy can help you with more than you might think. Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can offer expert, confidential advice and treatment for many minor health problems.
As well as making sure they have enough repeat prescriptions, people are
also being urged to only call 999 for an ambulance or go to hospital
A&E departments in a medical emergency.
You can also call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation. You can also call NHS 111 if you're not sure which NHS service you need and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
Don’t forget, you can treat yourself for minor ailments at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet that includes pain relief medication, cold relief products, re-hydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting and a thermometer to check for fever. To find your nearest pharmacy, and for more information about treating minor illnesses and preparing your medicine cabinet, visit NHS Choices: www.