Is your repeat prescription on your shopping list this Easter? Don’t let the bank holiday catch you out. Take a few minutes to think about your health by ordering and collecting any repeat prescriptions early, ahead of Easter bank holiday.

Check when local pharmacies will be open, if you have a minor illness you can often get help there without the need to visit your GP or A&E.

Around 95% of people live within a 20 minute walk of a local community pharmacy, making pharmacists easily accessible and a valuable first port of call for minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, tummy troubles or teething.

Dr Vaughan Lewis, NHS England and NHS Improvement Medical Director South East said:

“If you or someone you care for requires medicine regularly, it’s important to make sure you order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time, to ensure you and your family have enough medicine to last over the bank holiday period.”

Don’t worry if you begin to feel unwell over the Easter weekend, you can take the best course of action to get well again sooner by taking some simple steps:

1. Visiting your pharmacy – If you are beginning to feel unwell, visit your local pharmacist for advice –  visit the NHS England website where you can find local pharmacy opening times over the bank holiday weekend across the South East
2. Calling 111 – If you need help urgently please call 111 for advice, assessment and to be directed to the best treatment.
3. Contact your GP – To help you and your family, more appointments are available at your local GP at evenings and weekends – visit their website or give them a call to find out when they’ll be open.

You can find details of your nearest pharmacy on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Opening hours for pharmacies in the South East during the Easter Bank Holidays can be found at https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/pharm-info/pharmacy-opening-hours/
• Every pharmacist is trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice, so they are the right person to see for minor health concerns. They train for five years in the use of medicines before they qualify and register with the professional regulator, and some also have an additional prescribing qualification. Pharmacy technicians are also required to register with the professional regulator and are subject to the same fitness to practice framework as pharmacists.

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