Doctors are urging people in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven to check their medicine and order repeat prescriptions ahead of the August bank holiday weekend.

Many GP practices and pharmacies in the area will have limited opening hours over the August bank holiday, making it more challenging for patients to access medicines at short notice.

Dr James Thomas, clinical chair for Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “By re-stocking medicine cabinets, knowing when your GP surgery is open and planning ahead for repeat prescriptions, people can ensure they make the most of the August bank holiday. Running out of daily medication can have serious consequences, especially for people who rely on them to control heart and breathing problems.”

Ordering medicines as soon as possible will make sure there is enough time for them to be processed and dispensed. Most GP practices need a minimum of 48 hours’ notice to issue a repeat prescription. People can also save time in the waiting room by requesting their repeat prescriptions using GP online services.

“Patients who have signed up to GP online services can use their smart phone, laptop, tablet or PC to request repeat prescriptions online. It’s simple to sign-up to, patients just need to take two forms of photo ID into their GP practice,” added Dr Thomas.

If people feel unwell over the holidays, they can check their symptoms using the NHS website www.nhs.uk, which also includes a services finder to help people find the most appropriate local service nearest to them. If people need urgent care during the bank holiday, use the NHS 111 service by visiting 111.nhs.uk online or by dialling 111. NHS 111 is a free service which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.