As people finish off their Christmas shopping there’s a good chance some will have left one very important item off their shopping list.
Local people with long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung and heart disease are being reminded to make sure they have the medication they need for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.
GP practices will only be closed on the bank holidays over Christmas and New Year but if you need medication only a handful of pharmacies will be open so it’s best to make sure you have what you need beforehand.
Dr Neil Hartley-Smith, Clinical Director of Fylde Coast CCGs, said: “It is important that patients with long-term conditions have enough of their prescribed medication to see them through to the New Year.
“So, if you or a relative have a long-term condition I’d encourage you to check that you have enough medication to see you through the festive period. If not, it is important to order more in good time – then you can get on with enjoying the holiday period in good health!”
“That being said we would also ask patients to only order what they need, when you need it and not stockpile medicines. Doing so can cause a lot of waste and could lead to a shortage of medicine available for those that don’t have any.”
If you need a pharmacy, there will be plenty open with the ones listed below open even on the bank holidays.
Christmas day
- Whitegate Pharmacy, Whitegate Health Centre, Blackpool 8am-9pm.
- Blackpool Pharmacy, Internet pharmacy – www.blackpoolpharmacy.co.uk 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm.
- Kepple Lane Pharmacy, Kepple Lane, Garstang 10am-1pm.
- Wesham Pharmacy, 22 Station Road, Wesham 10am-1pm.
Boxing Day
- Boots Pharmacy, 28-38 Bank Hey Street, Blackpool 10.30am-4.30pm.
- HBS Pharmacy, Newton Drive Primary Care Centre, Newton Drive, Blackpool 9am-7pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, 110 Talbot Road, North Shore, Blackpool, FY1 1LR 9am-12pm and 3pm-5pm.
- Morrisons Pharmacy Morrisons Supermarket, Amy Johnson Way, Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, 9am-3pm.
- Whitegate Pharmacy, Whitegate Health Centre, 150 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool 8am-9pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsburys, Sainsburys Store, Red Bank Road, Bispham, Blackpool, 9am-6pm.
- Tesco Pharmacy, Tesco Pharmacy, Clifton Retail Park, Clifton Road, Blackpool, 10am-4pm.
- Well Pharmacy in Asda, Asda, Cherry Tree Road, Blackpool, 10am-4pm.
- Asda Pharmacy, Dock Street, Fleetwood 10.30am-4.30pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 39 Victoria road west, Thornton Cleveleys 10am-4pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 3 St Annes Road West, Lytham St Annes, 10am-4pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 66 Clifton Street, Lytham St Annes 9am-5.30pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, 7 Wyre view, Knott end-on-sea, 9am-12pm and 3pm-5pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, St Andrews road north, Lytham St Annes, 9am-6pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, 13 Victoria road east, Thornton Cleveleys 9am-11am and 2pm-5pm.
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Amounderness Way, Thornton Cleveleys, 9am-4pm.
28 December
- Blackpool Pharmacy (Internet Pharmacy), Internet Pharmacy www.blackpoolpharmacy.co.uk, 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 28-38 Bank Hey Street, Blackpool 9am-5.30pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, J Sainsbury Store, 80 Red Bank Road, Blackpool 10am-4pm.
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Morrisons Supermarket, Amy Johnson Way, Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, 9am-6pm.
- Tesco Instore Pharmacy, Clifton Retail Park, Blackpool, 9am-1pm.
- Whitegate Pharmacy, Whitegate Health Centre, 150 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, 8am-9pm.
- Asda Pharmacy, Dock Street, Fleetwood, 9am-6pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 39 Victoria road west, Thornton Cleveleys, 10am-4pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 64-66 Clifton Street, Lytham St Annes, 11am-4pm.
- Kepple Lane Pharmacy, Kepple Lane, Garstang, Preston, 10am-1pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsbury St. Andrews Road North, St Annes on Sea, 10am-4pm.
New Year’s Day
- Blackpool Pharmacy, Internet Pharmacy – www.blackpoolpharmacy.co.uk 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy, J Sainsbury Store, 80 Red Bank Road, Blackpool, 10am-4pm.
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Morrisons Supermarket, Amy Johnson Way, Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, 10am-4pm.
- Whitegate Pharmacy, Whitegate Health Centre, 150 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, 8am-9pm.
- Asda Pharmacy, Dock Street, Fleetwood, 10am-5pm.
- Boots Pharmacy, 9 Rossall Road, Thornton Cleveleys, 10am-1pm.
- Kepple Lane Pharmacy, Kepple Lane, Garstang, Preston 10am-1pm.
- Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsbury St. Andrews Road North, St Annes on Sea, 10am-4pm.
Now is also a good time to double check that home medicine cabinets are well stocked with over-the-counter remedies so that minor illnesses and injuries can be managed at home during the festive period.
Don’t forget you can still access GP appointments in the evening and weekends by calling your practice and requesting an appointment. But please don’t call your practice asking for the COVID-19 vaccine, they will call you.
If you need urgent medical care over the festive period, you should use 111 before going to A&E unless it is life-threatening when you should call 999.