If you run
out of your medications outside the normal opening hours and you need them
urgently, there are some ways to get your supply quickly, even if you are away
from home.
If you have
a prescription and urgently require the medications, make sure you follow
below-mentioned steps:
- Use NHS choices pharmacy search service to find any nearby pharmacies and their working hours if your local pharmacy is closed. Some of the NHS choices pharmacies are open until midnight or even later, and even on public holidays.
- You can call NHS 111 free of charge if you would like to speak to someone first. The person you speak will be able to look out for an out-of-hour pharmacy or another NHS service in your locality.
- You could try contacting your GP in case of urgent need of medicines. Your GP should have details of out-of-hour service that is recorded in his answering machine. Your GP runs this kind of service outside the working hours and even on public holidays.
- If you need your medicines urgently and tried above steps and failed, use the NHS service search to find a nearest accident & emergency unit.
If you require
over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as antacids or painkillers like paracetamol
and you cannot find an open pharmacy, you can approach supermarkets, newsagents
or petrol stations. These places may stock a basic range of OTC medicines and
have longer opening hours than community pharmacies.
If you do
not have a prescription and you run out of your prescription-only medicines,
you may get an emergency supply from a chemist without a prescription. You will
be interviewed by your pharmacist to find out whether you are in desperate need
of medicines, whether you will be able to get your prescription without much
delay, or whether the medicine is prescribed by your doctor.
Your
pharmacist needs all information before they supply a prescription-only drug
without a prescription in case of emergency. They may not provide you the medicine
if they are not satisfied or convinced. You might have to pay for the service
provided and the medicines supplied.
If you need
your medicines urgently and you are away from home, you can consult with a
local doctor and a prescription for a limited supply. You still need an open
pharmacy if you get a prescription from a local doctor. Alternatively, you can
approach NHS walk-in centre service.
Pharmacy
Outlet, an online pharmacy registered with General Pharmaceutical Council, can
supply you the medicines through repeat prescription service. This can help
prevent you from running out of medicines.
