Running out of prescribed medicines at Christmas could have serious consequences for patients relying on them to control symptoms and manage disease.
The warning was sounded this week by Dr Graham Duce, GP Prescribing Lead at NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
He urged patients to collect any repeat prescriptions at least a week before Christmas Eve, pointing out that GP practices would be closed for four days with Christmas Day falling on a Thursday.
Dr Duce said that emergency services should not be used to get emergency supplies of medication:
"As a GP, I'm always surprised by the number of people who call our valuable out-of-hours service, run by local GPs, to order regular prescriptions because they have run out. The out-of-hours service is there for people who become unwell over the long Christmas weekend and need medical advice. The service can be accessed 24 hours a day by calling NHS 111.
"Patients who do inadvertently run out of prescription medicines when their GP surgery is closed should contact their local pharmacy rather than the out-of-hours service. Pharmacies will provide cover across localities during the festive period and should be able to supply any necessary medication.
"As winter is one of the busiest times of year for the NHS, ensuring a repeat prescription is collected in advance could help keep staff free to deal with life-threatening emergencies."
