Three ways to protect your health this Easter

As the weather begins warm this Easter break, many people will be out meeting family and friends, but it’s important that you also plan ahead and know how to look after your health, and the health of your family.

Many pharmacies and GP practices will be closed on Good Friday (April 7) and Easter Monday (April 10), but you can order prescriptions ahead of time, find out which pharmacies will be open and use some of the excellent on-line health advice available.

Here are the three key things to remember as we get ready for the Easter break.

1.    Order your prescription medicines early

If your medication is due near to the upcoming bank holidays, the Medicines Order Line will accept medication requests 14 days prior to the due date, as opposed to the usual seven days.

Getting your prescription done in advance ensures enough time for the prescriptions to be signed by a GP and processed by the pharmacy.

You can also use the Medicine Order Line call back service by emailing:

  • northmolonlinerequests@nhs.net (for patients who would telephone the 01246 number)
  • southmolonlinerequests@nhs.net (for patients who would telephone the 0115 number)

The MOL will be closed on the April 7, April 10, May 1, May 8 and May 29.

2.    Check your local pharmacy opening times

It’s important that you know where to go to get advice and medicines to look after yourself over the holidays, especially as many pharmacies and GP practices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Check your local pharmacy’s opening times, either by popping in or checking on-line, so you know what’s available

If your nearest pharmacy is closed, you will still be able to use one of the pharmacies which has been rostered to open. To find the nearest open pharmacy, check NHS England’s list, which will be updated ahead of the break.

3.    Use NHS111 online for advice

If you do need advice about a health concern that is not life-threatening or urgent, then check NHS 111 online, which has a wealth of advice to help you look after yourself and your loved ones.

NHS 111 covers a huge range of conditions your can manage yourself while also helping you to identify when you do need to visit a pharmacy, or seek more urgent care at an Urgent Treatment Centre or A&E.