The Easter bank holiday weekend is a busy time for our services and for the wider NHS. GP practices and some pharmacies will have limited opening hours, which can make it more difficult to get medicines at short notice.

Bank holiday weekends typically see an increase in people contacting our NHS 111 service for emergency prescriptions because they are running out of medication. Last Easter (29 March – 1 April 2024), the service received more than double the number of calls from people across the North West who needed to order repeat prescriptions, 4,176 calls compared with 1,645 the previous weekend  (22 – 25 March 2024).

It’s important to be prepared and order any repeat prescriptions that are due over the Easter weekend, from Good Friday (18 April) to Easter Monday (21 April) by Friday, by 11 April to ensure they can be processed and collected in time. It usually takes around 48 hours to process prescriptions.

The quickest way to order your repeat prescription is via the NHS App by logging in to your account using the NHS app or NHS website. If you don’t have access to the app, you can contact your GP surgery.

Paul Johnston, Integrated Contact Centre Service Delivery Manager, said, “Keeping your medicine cabinets stocked, knowing when your GP practice is open, and planning for repeat prescriptions that are due will help you make the most of the bank holiday weekend.”

“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.”

Over the Easter bank holiday, our urgent and emergency care services will be open as normal.  If you need urgent medical advice quickly, go online to 111.nhs.uk to check your symptoms. It provides the same advice as we would give you over the phone, and if needed, a clinician will call you back. For concerns about children under five, please call 111. Please remember that for life-threatening emergencies or serious illness, call 999.