18 Mar 2024
Don't get caught out this Easter weekend - remember your prescription!
Staff at NHS 24 are asking the public to check they have enough of their prescribed medication to last over Easter or any spring holidays.
NHS 24, which manages 111 as well as other digital and tele-health services, often receives calls from patients trying to get their prescribed medicines when their GP or own local pharmacy are closed. Call volumes to 111 for this type of query typically increase when there are public holidays, such as the upcoming Easter weekend and local holidays in May.
Dr John McAnaw is Associate Clinical Director and Head of Pharmacy at NHS 24. He advises the public to act now and check they have enough of their prescription to last over any holiday closures,
‘The date of the Easter holidays changes every year, and because of this it can be easy to get caught out and forget to check prescriptions before any GP practices or pharmacies close for the bank holidays.
‘The Easter weekend falls quite early this year, so my advice is to take some time now to check how much of your medication you have. If you need more to cover the holidays, bear in mind that your GP and pharmacy will need time to process your request so order in plenty of time and remember to pick your ordered prescription up.’
As well as 111, NHS 24 also manages the health information site NHS inform. The site hosts an accessing medicines self-help guide, which provides advice on how to get more medication when supplies have run out.
Dr McAnaw continues,
‘If you are in a situation where you urgently need medication and your normal GP or pharmacy are closed, our ‘Accessing Medicines’ self-help guide on NHS inform can quickly advise you on how to source the medicines you need.
‘However, you can have a fuss-free Easter weekend by checking your medication supplies now and ordering your prescription in plenty of time if needed. This will free up my colleagues to help those who require urgent medical advice and mean you will have more time to enjoy any spring activities with your loved ones.’
Find out more about NHS 24’s spring health campaign ‘Healthy Know How’ at https://www.nhsinform.scot/spring
Contact Information
Gillian Morrison
Communications Manager - External
NHS 24
gillian.morrison@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk
- During office hours: NHS24.hqcommunications@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk (NHS 24 Communications Team)
- Out of hours: 0330 123 3241 (duty press officer)
Notes to editors
Photo - NHS 24 spring campaign 4: Phoebe Burnett (left) and Abbie Duffin (right), both 9 years old and from Bearsden, launched NHS 24's annual spring health campaign 'Healthy Know How' at Caulders Garden Centre in Mugdock.
Photo - NHS 24 spring campaign 6: Abbie Duffin (left) and Phoebe Burnett (right).
About us
We are Scotland’s provider of digital and telephone-based health and care services. Our services include:
- 111 – providing urgent care triage for anyone who thinks they need A&E, but it is not life or limb threatening, support for those in mental health distress and advice when their GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
- NHSinform.scot - Scotland's online health information service that offers quality assured health and care information including - Symptom checker, Scotland’s Service Directory and Mental health advice and resources.
- Breathing Space a free and confidential phone and web chat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression, or anxiety.
- Care Information Scotland (CIS) a phone, webchat and website service providing information about care services for people living in Scotland.
- Quit Your Way Scotland an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland.
- Living Life a phone service that offers support to people in Scotland who are experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression or symptoms of anxiety through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
NHS 24 Online app
Our app ‘NHS 24 Online’ provides people in Scotland an additional channel to find out more about their symptoms, how to safely self-manage illnesses and conditions, and when and where to see further medical advice if required. NHS 24 Online is free and can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.
Social media
For more details on our services, including current campaigns and recruitment, have a look at our social media: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn
Recruitment
For all applicants hoping to join the organisation, our careers section of our website provides key information including:
- links to current vacancies
- videos of staff discussing their roles
- details of the recruitment process
- benefits of working for NHS 24 and top tips for a successful application.
Accessibility
Work is continually ongoing to ensure our services are accessible.
You can access 111 in diverse ways:
- Language Line - If English is not your first or preferred language, you can use the free interpretation service Language Line.
- British Sign Language (BSL) - If you use BSL, you can use the free BSL interpreting video relay service Contact Scotland BSL.
- Relay UK. - If you use a textphone you can contact NHS 24 on 18001 111. Or you can contact NHS 24 with the Relay UK app.
NHS inform provides health information online in 24 different languages, British Sign Language (BSL), Audio, Easy Read, and Large Print. For more information on this see: nhsinform.scot/translations/
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