How to get help from a prescriber when your GP is closed
Before we continue, it’s important to note that in an emergency, you should dial 999.
We all know that illnesses and concerns don’t stick to a 9 to 5 schedule, and this is especially true over busy holiday periods like Christmas and Boxing Day when GP surgeries are closed and many NHS services operate reduced hours.
If you suddenly need medical advice, a consultation, or a prescription when your GP isn’t available, here’s how you can still get safe, reliable help.
NHS 111: Limited advice when your GP is closed
NHS 111 is available when GP surgeries are closed and can provide general triage advice. However, it’s important to understand its limitations:
NHS 111 does not guarantee access to a prescriber
You may be advised to wait, self-care, or contact another service
Call-backs and onward referrals can be delayed, particularly during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays
Emergency medication supplies, where offered, are very limited and not suitable for many clinical situations
During busy periods such as Christmas and Boxing Day, NHS 111 services are often under significant pressure, and outcomes can vary depending on availability and demand.
For patients who already know they need timely clinical input or may require a prescription, this route can be uncertain and may result in further delays.
2. Use a private prescriber service: especially during the holidays
During periods when GP practices are closed (like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day), private prescriber services can offer an immediate and direct route to a qualified clinician and prescription.
Pharmacy Clinic Edinburgh is offering online consultations and prescriptions over the Christmas period — including 23rd to 26th December — so you won’t be left without support when your GP isn’t available.
Here’s how it works:
Book an appointment online
Attend a video consultation at your allocated time
If a prescription is needed, it’s issued as a secure electronic prescription
You receive a code you can take to any UK pharmacy to have your medicine dispensed — with no extra charge for the prescription when issued during your consultation.
This is particularly helpful if you’ve run out of medicine, think you may need antibiotics or have a new health concern that needs timely clinical assessment.
Note: Private prescriber services like this are not NHS services — so they have a fee. But they can be a safe, clinician-led option when NHS services are unavailable.
3. Know When It’s a Medical Emergency
If the situation is life-threatening - such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulties, uncontrollable bleeding or loss of consciousness — you should not wait for your GP or a prescriber service to open. Call 999 immediately.
