THE NHS has urged anyone with prescriptions to plan ahead as the bank holiday approaches.
Over the coming days, you might want to make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked with enough of your essential drugs to tide you over.
This is because your local GP and pharmacy might be closed or have different opening times between Friday, May 3 and May 6.
Staff said to remember that it takes pharmacy teams at least seven days to process and collect repeat prescriptions.
Dr Joanne Medhurst, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said: “If you have repeat medications, now is the time to check how much you have left, placing an order if you think you’re going to run out over the bank holiday.”
“Our dedicated pharmacy teams must take steps to prepare your order, including allowing enough time for your GP to review and authorise your prescription, placing the order for your medication, getting the right medication into stock, and preparing your individual prescription.”
Doing this will ensure that you don’t have to wait in the emergency department if you run out of your medicines.
Emergency services and hospitals typically see increased demand over the bank holiday,
Dr Joanne, added: “Bank holidays should be spent relaxing, enjoying the longer weekend. So, avoid the stress and check your prescription now.”
“Prescriptions can be requested on the NHS App, online, over the phone, or face-to-face at a GP surgery, and they can be sent directly to a preferred pharmacy for collection.
You can check whether a pharmacy will be open during the bank holiday on your regional NHS website.
Prescription costs to rise next month
Prescription charges for most people will rise from £9.65 to £9.90 on May 1, as did the cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs).
A three-month PPC increased by 80p to £32.05, and 12-month PPCs increased by £2.90 to £111.60.
The government also increased prescription charges in April 2023, having frozen them at £9.35 per item the year before, to help Brits cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
Other items affected by the May price hike include NHS surgical bras, as well as acrylic and human hair wigs.
Who’s eligible for free prescriptions?
If you live in England, you can get free prescriptions if you’re in one of the following groups:
- You’re aged 60 or over
- You’re aged under 16 or are 17 or 18 and in full-time education
- You’re pregnant or had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
- You have a specific medical condition and have valid medical exemption card
- You have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- You hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- You are an NHS inpatient
You can also get free prescriptions if you or your partner are claiming certain benefits, or if you’re aged under 20 and dependent on someone claiming certain benefits, including:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Pension credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
What does a well-stocked medicine cabinet look like?
Be prepared for common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home
The following list, recommended by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, will help you deal with most minor ailments.
Medicines:
- Pain relief – painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen are highly effective at relieving most minor aches and pains, such as headaches and period pain
- Decongestants – can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose.
- Indigestion treatment – if you have stomach ache or heartburn, a simple antacid will reduce stomach acidity and bring relief
- Antihistamines – these are useful for dealing with allergies and insect bites
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets – these remedies can quickly control the symptoms of diarrhoea, although they don’t deal with the underlying cause.
- Oral re-hydration salts – an easy way to help restore your body’s natural balance of minerals and fluid, and help your recovery after fever, diarrhoea or vomiting
- Sunscreen – keep a sun lotion of at least factor 15 to reduce your risk of skin cancer
First aid kit:
- Bandages – can support injured limbs, such as a sprained wrist, and apply direct pressure to larger cuts before being treated in hospital
- Plasters – a range of sizes, waterproof if possible
- Eyewash solution – this will help wash out grit or dirt in the eyes.
- Thermometer – digital thermometers that you put in your mouth produce very accurate readings; an underarm thermometer or an ear thermometer are good ways to read a baby or young child’s temperature.
- Sterile dressings – larger injuries should be covered with a sterile dressing to prevent infection until treatment can be given by a healthcare professional
- Tweezers – for taking out splinters; if splinters are left in, they can cause discomfort and could become infected
- Antiseptic – this can be used to clean cuts before they’re bandaged, and most can treat a range of conditions, including insect stings, ulcers and pimples; alcohol-free antiseptic wipes are useful to clean cuts