People urged to order repeat prescriptions ahead of Easter
Monday, 7 April 2025
With the Easter bank holidays fast approaching, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is urging members of the public to order repeat prescriptions in good time.
Bank holiday weekends typically see an increase in people contacting the NHS 111 service for emergency prescriptions because they are running out of medication.
Last Easter, NHS 111 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.
For any repeat prescriptions that are due over the Easter weekend – from Good Friday (18 April) to Easter Monday (21 April) – people should place their orders by Friday 11 April at the latest to ensure they can be processed and collected in time.
A quick and easy way to request repeat prescriptions is by using the NHS App. You can order your medication at a time that’s convenient for you and choose which pharmacy you would like to collect them from.
You can download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via Google play or the App store. You can also access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website. If you’re struggling to get started, use the ‘Help’ button in the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp.
Susanne Lynch MBE, Chief Pharmacist for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said:
“If you take regular medications to manage a condition, don’t wait for your prescription to run out before making a request, as it can take time for your request to be processed by your GP practice and dispensed by your pharmacy.
“This is especially true during busy periods such as Easter, which is why we’re asking people to order their repeat prescriptions by Friday 11 April – earlier if possible – to avoid the risk of running out of vital medication during the bank holidays.
“Before making a request, please check what medicines you have at home and only order what you need to avoid unnecessary medicine waste, which costs the NHS around £300 million annually.”
As well as ordering repeat medications, the NHS App allows people to book and cancel appointments at their GP practice, view their health record and get trusted NHS information and health advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said:
“Many pharmacies will be closed or operating on reduced hours on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, making it more challenging for patients to access medicines at short notice.
“GP practices will also be closed during the bank holidays, so planning ahead by ordering your repeat prescriptions in good time will avoid you having to use urgent or emergency services over the break, which can put added pressure on already busy NHS services.
“If you need urgent health advice while your GP practice is closed and aren’t sure what to do, make NHS 111 online your first port of call.”
To find your nearest pharmacy and check their opening times, visit www.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
Urgent and emergency care services will be open over Easter. You should call 999 or visit accident and emergency (A&E) in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.
For urgent health advice that isn’t an emergency, go to 111.nhs.uk, call 111 or access NHS 111 via the NHS App.