From 1st April 2023, patients that require urgent repeat medication, for example as a result of them running out of a repeat medication, or because they have damaged their medication, or because they have left home without it, will be able to obtain an urgent supply via pharmacies commissioned under the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service and not via the local Emergency Supply Service.
The fundamental difference is that under the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, patients requiring an urgent supply of repeat medication will need to contact NHS 111 (by telephone or online) to be referred to a local participating pharmacy.
Patients will therefore no longer be able to be referred via GP practices or GP Out of Hours providers.