With the festive season just around the corner health and care teams are urging people to make sure they have one thing ordered well in advance of the holidays – their repeat prescriptions!
People across North Cumbria are being reminded to enjoy the season in good health by ordering any prescribed medication before the Christmas holidays - when some GP practices and community pharmacies may be closed.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is urging everyone to make sure these items are on hand and say it will save you the worry if you need them over the coming months.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society recommends you include the following in your medicine cabinet:
- A first-aid kit, including bandages, plasters, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape for dressings and tweezers
- Pain relief such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen for aches, pains and high temperatures
- Oral rehydration salts to replace lost minerals and fluid after a fever or vomiting and diarrhoea
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets to relieve symptoms of diarrhoea, although these will not help with the underlying cause
- Antihistamines which can help with allergies
- Indigestion relief remedies
Paul Fieldhouse, Clinical Director of Pharmacy at NCIC, is encouraging everyone to double check their supplies.
He said: “Many of us get a minor illness from time to time over the winter period and you’ll be relieved of suffering if you have a properly stocked medicine cabinet that helps you get back on your feet quickly.
“It is worth checking the medicines you have at home to make sure they are still appropriate and still in date.
“Remember your pharmacist is an expert who can advise you about any medications you have been prescribed which might affect your choice of product. We want you to enjoy this season so pop in to your local pharmacy where we're always on hand to help.
“Act now and save yourself that terrible feeling of having to drag yourself to the pharmacy when you’re ill.”
Dr Neil O'Brien, GP and medical director for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “GP practices will only be closed for an additional three days over the holiday period, so a little forward planning should avoid any problems.
"If you know that your medication is due over Christmas and New Year, please remember to re-order your prescription now while there is still plenty time for it to be processed and dispensed.”
· GP practices will be closed on Monday December 26th, Tuesday 27th and Monday 2nd January
· It can take up to 48 hours for most surgeries to process a repeat prescription and a further three days for pharmacies to process.
Patients are advised to use the NHS App, or visit their local pharmacy or GP surgery online ordering system to arrange a repeat medication.
How to order your repeat prescription
1. Order online via your GP Practice website – you need to be registered with your practice for this.
2. Order through the NHS App – download the app from Google Play or the App store, you can register without having to visit your practice. More information on the NHS App is available on the nhs.uk website.
3. Order in person, at your GP Practice – simply tick the medicines required on the white, tear-off section of your prescription and drop it into your GP Practice, ask a relative or friend to drop it in for you, or post it. Many practices have a box outside so you don’t need to go into the practice building to do this.
NHS111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days week, to offer help and advice on a whole range of medical problems when your GP surgery is closed.