Patients who need prescribed medication are being reminded to order repeat prescriptions now, before the Easter bank holidays and weekend closures from April 7 to 10.
Most pharmacies and GP surgeries in Sussex will be closed or have reduced hours over the bank holidays and weekend, and the NHS is advising patients to order repeat prescriptions now.
Forgetting to get enough supplies of essential medication can put patients’ health at risk and end up putting strain on out-of-hours services, which are there to deal with the most urgent health problems.
Data shows one in four calls to NHS 111 over weekends can be from callers requesting repeat prescriptions, who take up time which could have been spent supporting callers with an urgent and unavoidable need.
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A spokeswoman for NHS Sussex said: “We are urging patients, their families and carers to please check now that they have enough daily medication to see them through the bank holiday break.
“Running out of daily medication over the bank holiday weekend could have serious consequences, especially for patients who rely on their prescriptions to control heart and breathing problems.
“Bank holidays are always busy times of year for the NHS so picking up a repeat prescription in advance really does help us help you.”
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For those who do need help for urgent care that’s not an emergency, across Sussex there are alternatives to visiting A&E.
There are several walk-in and minor injury services and urgent treatment centres available to help with illness and injuries which are urgent but not life threatening:
- Brighton Health Centre walk in service, Brighton Station open 8am to 8pm every day
- Queen Victoria Hospital Minor Injury Unit, East Grinstead, open 8am to 8pm every day
- Crowborough Minor Injury Unit open 8am to 8pm every day
- Uckfield Minor Injury Unit open 8am to 8pm every day
- Lewes Urgent Treatment Centre open 8am to 8pm every day
- Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Minor Injury Unit 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- Crawley Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre open 24 hours everyday
- Worthing Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
- St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, Urgent Treatment Centre.
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