Residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being reminded to make sure they order their repeat prescriptions ahead of the Easter bank holidays on Friday 29 March and Monday 1 April.
The advice is being issued after people found themselves caught short during previous bank holidays, when many of the calls to NHS111 were from people who had run out of medication. Patients can order medication using the NHS App, as well as through their GP practice.
For all urgent health needs over the bank holiday, people are advised to use NHS111 online or they can phone 111 or use the NHS App. This service provides self-care advice on common ailments and, if necessary, they can arrange for you to see a nurse or doctor at a local urgent care service. NHS111 online can also be used for emergency repeat prescription guidance.
People can check the Get in the Know website for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, to find out how to get the right care as quickly as possible when they are unwell or injured, with all the information on local urgent care services in one place.
Additionally, local community pharmacists are qualified health professionals and are the right people to see for advice on minor ailments and for over-the-counter medicines. Bank holiday opening times for pharmacists in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be available on the NHS England website.
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, many pharmacies can also now offer treatment and prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP.
For urgent mental health support, people can call the Central Access Point (CAP) on 0116 295 3060 and 0808 800 3302 open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The 999 service should only be used for an urgent, life threatening, medical situation, where emergency assistance is required.
GP practices are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm, excluding bank holidays, which means they will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday (29 March and 1 April).
