With GP surgeries shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, a leading UK pharmacy is encouraging customers to place their repeat prescription orders by a specific date in December to ensure a seamless holiday period, especially when it comes to matters of health.
Boots plans to keep over 750 selected pharmacies open during the festive season so that individuals can continue to access crucial healthcare such as medicines, health advice, and key services, throughout the busy Christmas period. Customers can confirm the opening hours of their local Boots pharmacy on boots.com as trading times may be restricted and could vary depending on the store’s location. The health and beauty retail behemoth is also reminding those on repeat prescriptions to place their orders latest by December 17 to guarantee they arrive in time for the festive break, especially if travel is on the cards.
Patients can obtain medicines, healthcare advice and services, including the NHS Pharmacy First Service in England, from Boots pharmacies.
It’s crucial to remember that the provision of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment and that the service is available in most stores in England only. The availability and opening hours of the store are also factors to consider, and charges may apply for the services.
Furthermore, Boots PrescriptionsPlus provides a handy way to manage repeat prescriptions during the hectic festive season.
Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, explains: “If you’re feeling under the weather or need access to healthcare over the festive holiday, our pharmacy teams are on hand to help. It’s quick and easy to get advice, diagnosis and treatment for common minor ailments from your Boots pharmacy team right on your local high street, with no appointment needed.
“If you are on repeat prescriptions, it’s important to ensure that you have ordered your medication before the Christmas break. It’s easy to order and track delivery of prescriptions with Boots PrescriptionsPlus – just make sure you get your order in before 17 December to ensure you get your medicines in time for the festive period, especially if you are travelling.”
Essential healthcare services available at Boots to support customers during the festive season include:
PrescriptionsPlus
PrescriptionsPlus offers customers a straightforward method to access and manage NHS repeat prescriptions. Given that the week preceding Christmas typically represents one of the busiest periods for dispensing, Boots urges people to order their repeat prescriptions as soon as possible and no later than December 17 to help guarantee they arrive before Christmas.
Upon registering for PrescriptionsPlus, customers can benefit from complimentary home delivery in England and a tracking facility that enables them to monitor the status of their prescription order throughout its entire journey, complemented by text message notifications.
Customers can conveniently register via boots.com, and free delivery via Royal Mail is exclusively available only for patients registered with a GP in England.
The option to collect in-store (only at participating surgeries) is open to all customers registered with a participating GP anywhere in the UK, although charges may apply for store delivery. Prescription charges may also be applicable, and enrolment in the text messaging service is mandatory. Tracking is available when ordering via Boots.com.
NHS Pharmacy First Service
Under the NHS Pharmacy First Service, Boots pharmacies in England can provide patients with advice and prescription treatment for seven common conditions including sinusitis, sore throats, insect bites, earache in children, impetigo and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.
Over-the-counter medication and healthcare advice
Boots provides customers with access to more than 180 healthcare services, both privately and on behalf of the NHS. Over 700 healthcare brands are available in store and online, including providing symptom relief for seasonal illnesses such as common colds and the flu.
Boots customers can also have healthcare products delivered directly to their homes via boots.com on-demand, with home delivery options available through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.
Boots Online Doctor
Boots Online Doctor offers a convenient way to access medical advice and support without the need for a GP appointment. It covers a variety of healthcare services including women’s health, sexual health, and general health.
The clinical and customer service teams are on hand to provide patient care throughout the festive season, with the exception of Christmas Day and a limited service on New Year’s Day.
It’s important to note that treatment access is contingent upon an online consultation with a clinician to evaluate suitability. This service is subject to availability and charges do apply.
