If you run out of prescribed medicine and can’t get a prescription before your next dose, you may be able to obtain an emergency supply from a pharmacy. You should take an old prescription/repeat slip or the medicine packaging with you to the pharmacy, if you have it.
You'll be assessed by the pharmacist to find out:
· If you need the medicine immediately.
· Who previously prescribed the medicine.
· What dose of the medicine you normally take.
The pharmacist needs to know the answers to these questions before they can make an emergency supply of a prescription–only medicine. They will keep a record of your details, the medicine they provide and the nature of the emergency. The pharmacist will also inform your GP that an emergency supply has been made.
In some instances, the pharmacist may not be able to make a supply because of the type of medicine you need and the requirements of the service. If this is the case, the pharmacist will explain any other options that are available to you.
The pharmacist will usually supply enough medicine to give you time to get a prescription, but in some cases, they will only be able to give you a set pack size e.g. the smallest tube of an ointment or a single vial of insulin.
The service relies on a set of legal requirements to allow pharmacists to make the supplies, and some medicines, such as strong painkillers, cannot be supplied. However, even in this situation, a pharmacist is the best person to speak to.
To find a pharmacy in your area providing this service, please visit NHS 111 Wales and select ‘emergency supply of medication’ from the filter list on the left-hand side.