Overview
- Patients are advised to order repeat prescriptions by Thursday 18 December to avoid gaps when GP practices close and many pharmacies shut from Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 December.
- Boots says more than 750 branches will open on one or more bank holidays so people can access medicines and pharmacy advice, with local hours available on boots.com.
- Boots recommends placing repeat prescription orders by Wednesday 17 December via its PrescriptionsPlus service, which offers free home delivery in England and order tracking.
- NHS guidance directs people to use NHS 111 online or by phone for urgent, non‑life‑threatening care over the holidays and to keep A&E for emergencies.
- Health leaders urge households to stock basic over‑the‑counter items such as paracetamol, plasters, indigestion remedies and anti‑diarrhoeals, and to consider NHS Pharmacy First for common conditions.