Patients encouraged to order their repeat prescriptions in advance
News from our partners NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and NHS Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group
The NHS in Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin, is encouraging people to be prepared this Easter and leave enough time for their repeat prescriptions.
Remember GP practices will be closed over the Bank Holiday period. During Bank Holidays many people underestimate the time needed to order repeat prescriptions. Please ensure that you have enough medication to see you through the four days of Easter – your practice will need at least 48 hours notice.
The local NHS is also encouraging people, whilst they are out shopping for the Bank Holiday, to ensure their medicine cabinet is well stocked.
There are a lot of illnesses circulating at this time of year. People often turn up at hospitals with minor illnesses and injuries that could often be better treated more quickly elsewhere, or at home.
Your local pharmacist can offer you free, qualified health advice at any time, and no appointment is necessary. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses and answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines.
All year round pharmacists can also advise on healthy eating, emergency contraception, obesity and giving up smoking, and almost all have private areas where you can talk in confidence.
So, before the holiday schedule gets too hectic, check your medicine cabinet and make sure you have the following basics to get you through the holidays:
- Your usual painkillers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin
- Cold and flu remedies
- Anti-diarrhoea medicine
- Oral rehydration salts
- Indigestion remedies
- Plasters
- Bandages
- Thermometer
- Tissues.
If you are already taking other medication, check first with your pharmacist to make sure the medicines are right for you.
Check any medicines already in your cabinet are still okay to use. If any medicines are past their use-by date, don’t take them.
If you take regular medication make sure you have enough to get you through the holiday season. Remember the out of hours GP service should not be used for repeat prescriptions, so please think ahead.
Dr Mike Innes, Chair of the Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“We are encouraging people to be prepared nextweekend, and take steps to enjoy the Easter holidays. Remember, if you need regular medication ensure you have enough to last over the long weekend- don’t delay, put your prescription in as soon as you can. We would like to remind people that the GP out of hours service should not be used for repeat prescriptions. Ensure your medicine cabinet is well stocked for when the shops are closed.”
Dr Bill Gowans, Vice Chair of the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“It is often the way that people find themselves needing urgent medical advice- out of hours or at bank holidays; however, they are unsure which NHS service to use.
“Many people head to A&E or dial 999 because they don’t know where else to go; however, we are reminding people that these services should only be used for life threatening or serious injuries and illnesses. Don’t wait at A&E unless you really need to.”
For details of Pharmacy opening times and out of hours services, visit: www.telford.nhs.uk or www.shropshire.nhs.uk.
You can find a symptom checker and information about local NHS services at www.nhs.uk.
Make sure you read the leaflets for any medications beforehand.
Bear in mind that many cold and flu medications contain painkillers such as paracetamol, and should not be taken in conjunction with some other treatments.
