The NHS is urging people to order repeat prescriptions before the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend to ensure they have enough medication.

An extended four-day Bank Holiday weekend will take place next week in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

It means that Thursday, June 2, and Friday, June 3, will both be bank holidays.

Some NHS services may be closed on both days before the weekend.

According to NHS England, only one pharmacy in Alfreton will open on the Thursday and Friday.

The Tesco Pharmacy, in Hall Street, will open between 9am and 1pm on both of these days.

The Derbyshire Medicines Order Line does not normally open on bank holidays but it will be open on Thursday, between 8am and 12pm.

It will also operate extended hours between Monday (May 30) and Wednesday (June 1), opening until 5pm on each of these days.

GP services tend to close during bank holidays.

Dr Nigel Sturrock, regional medical director at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, said: “It is important that everyone gets prepared ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday by collecting any prescriptions before the celebrations and ensuring they have enough medication to last.

“NHS services are traditionally busy over bank holidays so every little helps.

“Taking daily medication is an important part of treatment for those with long-term health problems such as asthma and diabetes. People can be seriously ill if they run out of medicines and may need to be admitted to hospital, which can be avoided by ordering your prescription early.”

The NHS111 service is now available online and can be used throughout the Bank Holiday.

NHS England advises: “In a life-threatening situation, people should always call 999. But for other urgent care needs, people in the Midlands are asked to visit 111.nhs.uk which will then signpost to the most appropriate service that is open over the Bank Holiday. This could be a walk-in centre, pharmacy or an out-of-hours GP appointment.”

You can find more information about what services will be available in Derbyshire over the Bank Holiday weekend here.

Picture credit – Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay