South Central Ambulance Service: "Plan ahead to avoid running out of medication."
- Healthwatch Wokingham
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 19
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), which runs the NHS 111 service in the region, is urging people who take regular medication to plan ahead and avoid last-minute repeat prescription requests, particularly during busy periods like bank holidays, the next on 25th August.
Calls to NHS 111 for urgent repeat prescriptions have jumped by 61% in the past year, with around 16,000 calls annually, many of them unnecessary and avoidable.
What you can do instead:
Order your repeat prescriptions early: allow up to 5 working days for processing and collection.
Check pharmacy and GP opening hours, especially before bank holidays, like Monday 25th August.
Faster alternatives to calling NHS 111:
Use the NHS App (available 24/7) to request prescriptions and manage your care.
Visit 111 Online for non-urgent needs , there is no waiting on hold: https://111.nhs.uk/
You can no longer order repeat prescriptions through your local pharmacy. This must now be done via your GP or the NHS App to ensure safety and proper review.
“If you use a smartphone or tablet, the NHS App is quick to set up and makes ordering future prescriptions easier,” said Jonathan Osmond, NHS 111 manager at SCAS.
SCAS's message is clear, don’t wait until you’ve run out, plan ahead, use digital tools, and help ease pressure on urgent care services during peak times. Read the full statement here: Plan ahead to avoid running out of medication | South Central Ambulance Service
