How to get your meds out of hours

If you run out of your medicines outside normal opening hours and need some urgently, there are a few ways you can get an emergency supply quickly.

If you already have a prescription, use the NHS pharmacy service search (nhs.uk/service-search) to find nearby pharmacies and their opening hours. Some are open until midnight or even later.

If you’d like to speak to someone, call NHS 111 free of charge by dialling 111. They will be abl e to look up an out-of-hours pharmacy or another NHS service in your area.

For very urgent cases, try calling your GP practice’s out-of-hours service that will be recorded on their answering machine.

If it’s a real emergency, go to your nearest A&E.

If you need non-prescription medicines, supermarkets, newsagents and petrol stations stock a basic range of over-thecounter medicines.

If you don’t have a prescription, you may be able to get an emergency supply from a pharmacy. It’s a good idea to take the medicine packaging with you.

You will need to pay for the medicine and a dispensing charge too.

If you run out while you are away from home, you may be able to have a consultation with a local GP and get a prescription for a limited supply of medicines.

You can also make you way to an NHS walk-in centre. In some cases, they can give you medicine after you’ve seen a nurse.