Ahead of the summer bank holiday on Monday 25 August, people in the North East and Yorkshire are reminded to plan their medicine needs, use the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions and visit NHS111 online first if medical advice is needed.
Dr Faisel Baig, a north Lincolnshire GP and Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS North East and Yorkshire, said people should order any repeat prescriptions well ahead of the bank holiday weekend to give GP practices and community pharmacies time to prepare their medication.
“If you take regular medications and are due a repeat prescription leading up to the summer bank holiday, please request it in advance,” Dr Baig said. “This will allow your GP practice and pharmacy to have your repeat medication ready in good time.”
The easiest way to order repeat prescriptions is by using the NHS App, and visit NHS111 online first if medical advice is needed, Dr Baig said. Download the NHS App free on the App store or on Google Play.
As well as ordering repeat prescriptions, you can use the NHS App to change your nominated pharmacy, and see if your prescription has been issued. The NHS App now features an ‘Amazon-style’ tracker that allows people to check the status of their medications – and it has been used 715,000 times since May. The feature means you can be sure your prescription is ready before visiting the pharmacy.
The NHS App also links to NHS 111 online which offers help for a wide range of symptoms and medical conditions.
Dr Baig explained: “NHS 111 online can tell you where to get help for your symptoms, the most appropriate local treatment option such as a GP, a pharmacy consultation, a call-back from a nurse, or an urgent walk-in treatment centre.
“People should still call 999 and go to A&E in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk,” he said.
NHS 111 online isn’t available for children under five. People looking for urgent medical help for under-fives should use the 111 phone line.
Health advice and information is also available on the NHS website, including help in finding a local pharmacy, dentist, GP practice or Talking Therapies service.
For community pharmacies open this bank holiday weekend, visit find your pharmacy. Community pharmacies can help people with their medicine and health needs, as well as providing advice and treatment for a range of minor conditions:
- sinusitis
- sore throat
- earache
- infected insect bites and stings
- impetigo
- shingles
- uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women.
People may also consider having at home a small stock of basic medicines in case needed for minor illness or injury. These may include paracetamol, plasters, indigestion remedy and anti-diarrhoeal medicine. Ask your local pharmacist for advice on what medicines you should keep at home.