The UK’s largest online pharmacy has warned that requests to NHS 111 for urgent repeat prescriptions are set to spike in the coming month, as busy festive schedules collide with seasonal pressure on the NHS and wider healthcare sector.

Urgent repeat prescriptions provide an emergency supply for patients that have completely run out of their regular medication and cannot get a prescription through their GP in time. Based on the latest NHSE statistics, around 1 in 5 (20%) enquiries now made to NHS 111 online are for urgent repeat prescriptions, up from 1 in 15 (6.6%) just three years ago.

So far this year, the service has received an average of 135,000 emergency prescriptions requests each month, spiking above 150,000 in April, May and August. However, over the past three years, volumes have jumped 49% in December, suggesting the number could hit 200,000 for the first time next month.

The rapid growth of demand for NHS 111 online urgent repeat prescriptions is a sign that patients are embracing digital-first healthcare, but the speed and shape of that growth is concerning. Patients order emergency prescriptions when they can’t get a GP appointment, or forget to order in time, and both are particularly problematic at this time of year.

Reduced opening hours, frequent bank holidays, busy festive schedules, and seasonal sicknesses all collide in a perfect storm that puts increased pressure on emergency services. My advice for patients is to order online and in good time; ideally at least 7 to 10 days before running out. Pharmacy2U is trusted with the prescriptions of more than 1.6 million patients, proudly averaging 98% medicine stock availability. It is also the first online-only provider of NHS prescriptions to host a medicine stock checker tool, allowing patients to check availability of their prescriptions online.

Contributing to this growth has been the increased popularity of the NHS app. In May and June this year, the App introduced ‘Amazon style’ prescription tracking, resulting in record use of the service, and reducing pressure on phone services.

Missing a course of medication can have significant, even life-threatening, implications for the approximately 25 million people on a repeat prescription in England. Many common conditions, such as Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and depression could leave patients in a dire position if their medicine cabinet runs dry.

Tips from Phil Day, Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmacy2U:

1. Order early

Many doctors and pharmacists will be closed or operating with reduced hours over the festive period, making it harder to get an appointment, or leading to long queues. Ordering early is advisable.

2. Set reminders

It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. Set a calendar reminder at least 10 days before your prescription runs out or use a pharmacy that reminds when your medication is due.

3. Keep it all together

The Christmas to do list is likely already as long as your arm but include your prescription order on there. Pressure on healthcare services is through the roof at this time of year, so you might need to plan well ahead of time.

4. Get your repeat prescriptions online

Often families are struggling to juggle trips to the pharmacist with jam-packed Christmas agendas. Many people don’t realise you can have your NHS repeat prescription delivered to your door, at no additional cost, and if you’re travelling over the break, you can reroute your delivery to a different address.