With the Christmas and New Year fast approaching, Karen O’Brien, Chief Pharmacist for NHS England in the North West is reminding people to order their repeat prescriptions in good time to avoid running out of essential medication during the festive period.

Repeat prescriptions due to run out in the days over the Christmas and New Year will need to be ordered by Monday 15 December to ensure they can be dispensed and collected in time. Planning ahead will help reduce pressure on urgent care services and avoids unnecessary stress for people in the lead up to the bank holiday.

This will be even more important this year as winter pressures are already starting to take hold, flu cases are increasing, and with the industrial action planned by resident doctors between 17 and 22 December 2025 – all of which create additional challenges as we head into the festive holidays.

During last Christmas and New Year, NHS 111 saw huge increases in calls about repeat prescriptions.  3,595 calls were made to 111 by people who needed emergency medication over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays in 2024, rising from 2,317 calls during the same period in 2023.

Pharmacies across the North West will have limited opening hours over Christmas and New Year, and many will be closed on Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December and Boxing Day, Friday 26 December and on New Years Day, Thursday 1 January making it more challenging to access medicines at short notice. Waiting and using emergency or urgent services over the break puts added pressure on already busy NHS services.

Karen said: “Making sure your repeat prescriptions are planned in advance for Christmas and New Year can ensure you make the most of the festive period and keep up your medication routine, avoiding unnecessary calls to 111 or, even more seriously, trips to A&E, but please do only order what you need.

“Running out of your usual medication can have serious consequences, especially if you use them to control a heart condition, breathing problems or have a health condition such as diabetes.

“To help you over the Christmas and New Year holidays, keeping medicine cabinets stocked for general minor ailments such as coughs, colds and knowing when pharmacists and GP practices are open over this period will help you get the right advice and treatment when you need it.”

The region’s lead GP Dr Paula Cowan, Regional Medical Director for Primary Care, reiterated this important message adding, “If you take regular medications, for any health condition, and if you’re due a repeat prescription in the week leading up to Christmas or the New Year, please remember to request repeat prescriptions via your practice or the NHS app by Monday 15 December.

“This enables your practice and pharmacy to have prescriptions ready in time which is particularly important ahead of Christmas and New Year. Please help us to help you and avoid any gaps in your medication and help ease pressure on the already busy NHS as we head towards one of our busiest times of year.”

Karen added: “The easiest way to order repeat prescriptions is by using GP online services, via the NHS App or through your GP practice website or your pharmacy”.

As well as ordering repeat medications, the NHS App allows people to book and cancel appointments at their GP practice, view their health record, and get health advice, and search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments.  Download the NHS App on the app store or on google play.

Over Christmas and New Year, urgent and emergency care services will be open.  The public should call 999 or attend accident and emergency services in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency. For non-emergency health advice, people should use 111.nhs.uk as their first port of call. If you cannot access 111 online, please call 111.