High street pharmacy giant Boots has issued an urgent 24-hour warning to its repeat prescription customers across the UK, stating that orders must be placed by Tuesday, 17 December to guarantee delivery before Christmas Day.
Final call for festive medication orders
The retailer emphasised that failure to act by the deadline means delivery before Christmas cannot be assured, a particular concern for those travelling or whose GP surgeries will close for the bank holidays. Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, advised: "If you are on repeat prescriptions, it's important to ensure that you have ordered your medication before the Christmas break."
She highlighted the convenience of the Boots PrescriptionsPlus service for ordering and tracking deliveries, but stressed the 17 December cut-off is critical for timely festive arrival. The week before Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest for dispensing, prompting the chain to encourage early action.
Boots pharmacies remain open for holiday healthcare
While GP surgeries will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day, Boots has confirmed that over 750 of its pharmacies will remain open to provide essential services. These include dispensing medicines, offering healthcare advice, and facilitating access to the NHS Pharmacy First Service.
Selected pharmacies will open on one or more of the festive bank holidays. Customers are urged to check specific opening times for their nearest branch on the official Boots website.
Key services available over the festive period
Boots outlined several vital healthcare services that will be accessible during the holidays:
PrescriptionsPlus: This NHS repeat prescription management service offers free home delivery in England and a tracking system with text updates. The company strongly recommends signing up via boots.com to use it.
NHS Pharmacy First Service: Available at Boots pharmacies in England, this allows patients to receive advice and prescription treatment for seven common conditions without a GP appointment. These include sinusitis, sore throats, earache in children, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.
Over-the-counter access and advice: With over 180 healthcare services and 700 healthcare brands, Boots will provide symptom relief for seasonal illnesses like flu and colds. Products can also be delivered via on-demand partners like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.
Boots Online Doctor: This service provides continued access throughout the festive period (excluding Christmas Day, with reduced service on New Year's Day) for areas such as women's health, sexual health, and general health, all without needing a GP appointment.
Ms. Nevinson added a reassuring note for those feeling unwell: "Our pharmacy teams are on hand to help. It's quick and easy to get advice, diagnosis and treatment for common minor ailments... with no appointment needed."
