Bank holidays are a useful opportunity to rest, spend time with family or enjoy a day out. However, GP surgeries and pharmacies may have different opening hours, and prescription processing can take longer when several services are closed. If you take regular medicines, planning ahead can help you avoid running out at an inconvenient time.
At Barnes Pharmacy on Welwyn High Street, we can help with prescription services and answer questions about collecting your medicines. The safest approach is to request your repeat prescription early, check when it will be ready and allow extra time around the bank holiday.
Check how much medicine you have
Start by checking your medicines well before the bank holiday. Look at each packet, including medicines that you take less often, and note how many doses remain. It is easy to overlook items such as inhalers, insulin, creams, eye drops or medicines taken only when needed.
Consider:
- How many days your current supply will last
- Whether the bank holiday falls close to your usual collection date
- Whether you have more than one repeat medicine due at a similar time
- Whether you will be away from home or travelling during the holiday period
Do not wait until your last few doses if the bank holiday is approaching. GP practices, prescription teams and pharmacies may have reduced opening hours on the public holiday, and some may also be busy on the surrounding days.
Order your repeat prescription early
Repeat prescriptions normally need to be requested from your GP practice or through the ordering system that your practice uses. This may include the NHS App, another approved GP online service or a request made directly to the surgery. Some pharmacies offer prescription collection or ordering support, but they cannot prescribe your medicines or approve a repeat request on the GP’s behalf.
The NHS advises allowing at least two working days for a repeat prescription to be processed, although the exact time can vary between GP practices and pharmacies. Bank holidays are not working days, so it is sensible to request your medicines earlier than usual. Allow additional time if your prescription needs to be reviewed, if you take controlled medicines or if a medicine is temporarily unavailable.
When ordering, request only the medicines you need and check that the items listed are correct. If a medicine is missing from your repeat list, contact your GP practice rather than adding an explanation to an unrelated request.
Use the NHS App or your GP’s online service
If you are registered for online services, ordering digitally can be a convenient way to send your request without waiting for the surgery telephone line to open. In the NHS App, you may be able to view your repeat medicines and select the items you need. Your GP practice then reviews and authorises the request before sending it electronically to your nominated pharmacy.
Before submitting an online request, check:
- The correct medicine, strength and quantity
- That your nominated pharmacy is still the pharmacy you want to use
- Whether the request has been successfully submitted
- When the prescription is likely to be ready for collection or delivery
If you cannot order online, contact your GP practice to ask about alternative arrangements. Do not assume that a previous request has been received unless you have confirmation.
Allow time for the pharmacy to prepare your medicines
Once the GP practice has authorised your prescription, it is sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy. The pharmacy team must then process the prescription, check the items and prepare them safely. If a medicine is not in stock, the team may need to source it from a wholesaler or discuss suitable next steps with the prescriber.
For this reason, ordering a prescription is not the same as having the medicine ready immediately. Contact the pharmacy before travelling to collect your medicines, particularly if the bank holiday is close or you have requested several items.
It is also worth checking the pharmacy’s opening hours. Bank holiday hours may differ from normal hours, and some pharmacies close on the days surrounding a public holiday. Barnes Pharmacy can provide information about prescription services and collection arrangements, so please contact the team if you are unsure about the process.
What if you are going away?
If you will be travelling during the bank holiday, request your repeat prescription in good time and tell your GP practice or pharmacy if you need to collect it before leaving. Make sure you have enough medicine for the whole trip, plus a small amount of extra time in case your return is delayed.
Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging and pack them in your hand luggage when travelling by air. Some medicines, including controlled drugs, may require additional documentation or have specific rules when taken abroad. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist for advice well before travelling, especially if you are visiting another country.
If you are collecting medicines for someone else, check whether the pharmacy needs any information or permission from the patient. You may need to provide the patient’s details and answer security questions.
If you are running out of medicine
If you have forgotten to order your repeat prescription and are close to running out, contact your GP practice and pharmacy as soon as possible. Explain which medicine you need and when your current supply will finish. The pharmacy team can advise on the next practical step, but they may need to refer you to the GP practice for a new prescription.
When your GP surgery is closed, NHS 111 can provide advice about urgent healthcare needs and local services. A pharmacist may sometimes be able to provide an emergency supply of a medicine, but this depends on professional assessment, the medicine involved and the information available. An emergency supply is not guaranteed, so it should not replace ordering repeat medicines in advance.
If you have missed doses or are unsure whether to continue taking a medicine, speak to a pharmacist, GP or NHS 111. Do not double your next dose unless a healthcare professional has specifically advised you to do so. If you have severe symptoms or believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 999.
A simple bank holiday prescription checklist
- Check your medicine supply at least a week before the bank holiday
- Request your repeat prescription through your GP practice or approved online service
- Allow extra time for weekends and bank holidays
- Confirm that the request has been received and authorised
- Check the pharmacy’s opening hours and collection arrangements
- Contact the pharmacy before visiting if you are unsure whether your prescription is ready
- Arrange medicines and documentation early if you are travelling
Plan your next repeat prescription with Barnes Pharmacy
Early planning can make bank holiday medicine collection straightforward and reduce the risk of being left without essential treatment. For advice about our prescription service in Welwyn and to discuss your collection arrangements, book the prescriptions service with Barnes Pharmacy.