NHSInform.scot
Patients in Scotland are being urged to check their repeat prescriptions in advance of the holiday season as part of a campaign targeting people with minor ailments and illnesses.
The ‘Be Health-Wise This Winter’ campaign was launched at a community pharmacy in Ayrshire on 30 November 2018 by Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman.
The campaign has been launched to urge patients to prepare for seasonal illnesses by having cold and flu remedies at home, checking they don’t require any repeat prescriptions and making themselves aware of their GP surgery opening hours over the festive holidays.
Freeman said: “Community pharmacies are a great place to go to for minor ailments and illnesses, and for health and medicines advice.
“I would urge everyone to begin to plan ahead for winter by making sure you have enough medicines to treat common conditions at home. If you’re not sure what you need then a pharmacy like this one we’re in today can help with advice, and can also deal with minor ailments. “
Also at the campaign launch was John McAnaw, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish Pharmacy Board and head of pharmacy at NHS24, Scotland’s national telehealth and telecare organisation.
He said: “NHS24’s 111 service gets a lot of pharmacy calls, and of those taken over the festive period last year, 68% were about repeat prescriptions.
“Being organised and ordering absolutely only what you need will reduce the chance of you needing to make a call to us, leaving you more time to make the most of the holidays with your family.”
