Date published: 19 August 2025
Cheshire and Merseyside patients have been advised to order prescriptions early to avoid missing out on key medications prior to the busy August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August).
Bank holidays are traditionally the busiest times for NHS resources with the NHS 111 phone line often witnessing huge increases in calls from people who need urgent repeat prescriptions. Over the last summer bank holiday weekend in 2024 (24-26 August), the North West NHS 111 service answered 17,250 calls, 2,357 of which were for repeat prescriptions.
It has prompted NHS Cheshire and Merseyside to urge all patients to order all repeat prescriptions due in the days over the summer bank holiday by Friday 15 August to give GP practices and community pharmacies time to get their prescriptions and medications ready.
“Please remember to plan ahead and order any repeat prescriptions in plenty of time before the August bank holiday when GP practices are closed, and some pharmacies will also be closed or opening with reduced hours," said Susanne Lynch MBE, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Chief Pharmacist.
“Don’t wait for your prescription to run out if you rely on regular medication to manage a condition, as it can take time for your request to be approved by your GP practice and dispensed by your pharmacy. We also recommend people check what medicines they have and only order what is needed.”
The NHS App is the quickest and easiest way to order repeat prescriptions at a time that is convenient to patients, which can also be used to choose to track the progress of a medication order and choose the best pharmacy from which to pick up the prescription.
It also allows patients to book and cancel appointments at their GP practice, view their health records and get health advice by searching trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments. The NHS App is available for download on the app store and google play.
Patients who may need urgent care over the weekend should be aware hospitals and A&E departments are often very busy over bank holidays and are urged to use NHS 111 or call 111 for advice on where best to receive treatment. Those who need emergency treatment should still call 999 or go straight to an A&E department if they are in an emergency situation, are seriously ill or injured, or their life may be at risk.
People are also being urged to make sure they know how to access urgent care – in case they or a loved need help over the bank holiday weekend, and to support the safe and timely discharge of loved ones who are ready to leave hospital.
“To help us ensure our ambulance services and hospital A&E departments are kept free for those who need them most, we're reminding people to make NHS 111 their first point of call for all non-emergency healthcare treatment and advice," added NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Deputy Medical Director, Dr Fiona Lemmens.
NHS 111 can help with:
- where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do
- how to find general health information and advice
- where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
- how to get a repeat prescription
- getting emergency dental appointments.
Patients should still ring 999 if they, or someone else, experiences:
- signs of a heart attack like pain like a heavy weight in the centre of their chest
- signs of stroke such as your face dropping on one side
- difficulty breathing
- heavy bleeding that won’t stop
- seizures
- or sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat, or tongue.
Community pharmacies will also be open during the bank holiday period, who can support with medicines and health advice. Local pharmacies can also provide advice and treatment for a wide range of minor conditions. They can also provide treatment, where appropriate, for the conditions below without the need to see a GP. The nearest pharmacy can be found on the NHS website.
- sinusitis
- sore throat
- earache
- infected insect bites and stings
- impetigo
- shingles
- uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women.
If a child is unwell, you can visit Alder Hey's online symptom checker for helpful advice on how to treat children at home, and when to seek further medical help.
More information about options for urgent care is also available on the NHS website.
