5 Things to Know About Your Medicines This Winter

Winter places extra demands on our health — and on our medicines. Whether you are managing a long-term condition, picking up something for a seasonal illness, or stocking your medicine cabinet ahead of the colder months, here are five things our pharmacist wants you to know.

1. Order Your Repeat Prescriptions Early

The NHS sees a significant surge in demand every winter. GP surgeries get busier, processing times slow down, and deliveries can take longer than usual. If you take regular medication, build in extra time when placing your repeat order — ideally five to seven working days earlier than you normally would.

Running out of a critical medicine like a blood pressure tablet, an inhaler, or an antidepressant is not just inconvenient — it can be genuinely harmful. Plan ahead, and use a service like 365Med to have your medicines delivered directly to your door.

2. Store Your Medicines Correctly in Cold Weather

Some medicines are sensitive to temperature. Insulins, certain eye drops, and some liquid antibiotics need to be kept refrigerated. Others, like many tablets and capsules, should be kept below 25°C — which can actually be a challenge in winter if you store medicines near a radiator.

As a general rule: keep medicines in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight. The bathroom cabinet sounds convenient but is often too humid. A bedroom drawer or a dedicated medicine box in a cool room is far better.

3. Know When to See a Pharmacist Instead of Your GP

For common winter ailments — coughs, colds, sore throats, earache, and sinusitis — a pharmacist is often the fastest and most appropriate first point of contact. Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, our pharmacist can assess and treat several of these conditions directly, without you needing a GP appointment.

Save your GP for situations that genuinely require their input. For everything else, call or contact your pharmacist first.

4. Check Your Inhaler Technique

Cold air is one of the most common asthma and COPD triggers. Winter is the time when inhaler use increases — but it is also the time when poor inhaler technique is most likely to let you down.

Studies consistently show that a significant proportion of patients do not use their inhalers correctly, which means they are not getting the full benefit of their medication. If you have any doubt, speak to our pharmacist for a technique check. It takes five minutes and can make a real difference.

5. Flu and COVID Vaccinations Are Still Available

If you are eligible for an NHS flu vaccination — including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, carers, and people with certain long-term conditions — and you have not yet had yours, it is not too late. Protection begins within two weeks of the vaccine and lasts through the winter season.

Ask your GP surgery or local pharmacy about availability. At 365Med, we are always happy to advise on vaccination eligibility and where to access jabs in your area.

Your Pharmacist Is Here Year-Round

Winter or not, our team at 365Med is always available to help with your medicines, answer clinical questions, and make sure your prescriptions are managed safely. Do not wait until there is a problem — reach out to us anytime at customerservices@365med.co.uk or call us on 07949 840562.

Pharmacy First: Get Treatment Without a GP Appointment

One of the most significant changes to NHS pharmacy services in recent years is the Pharmacy First scheme — and at 365Med, we are proud to be a fully accredited provider.

If you have not heard of Pharmacy First yet, this guide will explain exactly what it is, who it helps, and how you can use it through our online pharmacy.

What Is Pharmacy First?

Pharmacy First is an NHS England initiative that allows community pharmacists to assess, advise on, and treat seven common conditions — without you needing to see a GP first. It launched in February 2024 and has already helped hundreds of thousands of patients get faster access to treatment.

The scheme recognises what pharmacists have always known: that for many everyday conditions, a qualified pharmacist has all the clinical knowledge needed to provide safe, effective treatment on the spot.

Which Conditions Are Covered?

Under Pharmacy First, our pharmacist can treat the following:

Sinusitis (ages 12 and over)
Sore throat (ages 5 and over)
Earache (ages 1 to 17)
Infected insect bite (ages 1 and over)
Impetigo (ages 1 and over)
Shingles (ages 18 and over)
Urinary tract infection (UTI) (women aged 16 to 64)

For eligible conditions, our pharmacist will carry out a clinical assessment, and where appropriate, can supply prescription-only medicines — including antibiotics — directly to you.

Why Use 365Med for Pharmacy First?

Accessing Pharmacy First through 365Med means you avoid the wait for a GP appointment entirely. For conditions like a UTI or a sore throat, where every hour of discomfort counts, being able to speak to a pharmacist and receive treatment quickly makes a genuine difference.

Our service is confidential, professional, and entirely NHS-funded — meaning there is no charge for the consultation or the medicines supplied under the scheme.

How to Access Pharmacy First at 365Med

Visit our Pharmacy First page and follow the steps to begin your consultation. You will be asked a series of clinical questions to help our pharmacist assess your condition safely. This is not a box-ticking exercise — it is a proper clinical assessment, carried out to NHS standards.

If your condition is not suitable for Pharmacy First treatment, or if our pharmacist identifies anything that needs further investigation, we will advise you on the most appropriate next step — whether that is your GP, an urgent care centre, or 111.

A Note on Antibiotics

Where antibiotics are clinically appropriate, our pharmacist can prescribe and supply them under the Pharmacy First scheme. We take antimicrobial stewardship seriously — antibiotics will only be supplied when they are genuinely needed, in line with NICE guidelines.

Pharmacy First is a significant step forward for patient access in the UK. We are here to make the most of it for you.

How to Order Your NHS Repeat Prescription Online

If you take regular medicines for a long-term condition, chances are you are familiar with the repeat prescription cycle — contacting your GP surgery, waiting for the prescription to be processed, then travelling to a pharmacy to collect it. For many patients, this process happens every four to eight weeks, indefinitely.

At 365Med, we have made it significantly simpler. Here is everything you need to know about ordering your NHS repeat prescription through us.

What Is a Repeat Prescription?

A repeat prescription is a prescription your GP issues on a regular basis for medicines you take long-term — such as blood pressure tablets, inhalers, diabetes medication, thyroid treatment, or antidepressants. Once your GP has set up a repeat, you no longer need a new appointment each time you need more medication.

How Does It Work at 365Med?

Ordering through 365Med is straightforward:

Register for a free account at 365med.co.uk.
Submit your prescription — your GP can send it electronically directly to us as your nominated pharmacy, or you can forward a paper prescription by post.
Our pharmacist reviews your order — we check everything is safe, appropriate, and in order before dispensing.
Your medicines are dispatched to your door in discreet, secure packaging, with tracked delivery.

Nominating 365Med as Your Pharmacy

The easiest way to use our service long-term is to nominate 365Med as your NHS Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) pharmacy. This means your GP sends your prescription directly to us electronically — you do not need to do anything extra each month.

To nominate us, simply ask your GP surgery or update your nomination through the NHS App. Our EPS details are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order any NHS prescription through you?
We dispense the vast majority of NHS medicines. In rare cases where a medicine requires specialist handling, we will let you know promptly.

How long does delivery take?
Most orders are dispatched within 24 hours of the prescription being received and verified. Tracked delivery typically arrives the next working day.

Is there a charge?
Standard NHS prescription charges apply (currently £9.90 per item). If you hold a valid exemption — such as a prepayment certificate, age exemption, or medical exemption — you will not pay. Always let us know your exemption status when ordering.

What if I need my medication urgently?
Contact us directly by phone or email and we will do everything we can to prioritise your order. For genuine emergencies, please contact your GP or call 111.

Ready to Get Started?

Ordering your repeat prescription online is one of those small changes that saves real time and reduces real stress. Register at 365Med today and let us take care of the rest.

Welcome to 365Med — Your Trusted Online NHS Pharmacy

Opening an online pharmacy comes with a simple promise: to make safe, regulated, and professional pharmacy care accessible to everyone across the UK — without the wait, without the travel, and without the hassle.

We are 365Med, a GPhC-registered online pharmacy based in Tividale, West Midlands. Led by our superintendent pharmacist Mohammed Zulkiffel (GPhC No. 2085322), every prescription we dispense and every piece of advice we give is backed by years of clinical training and a genuine commitment to your health.

Why We Started 365Med

Too many people across the UK are struggling to access basic pharmacy services. Busy schedules, mobility challenges, and long waiting times at high street pharmacies mean that patients are going without medicines they need — or delaying treatment until a problem becomes serious.

We built 365Med to change that. By combining the rigour of a fully regulated pharmacy with the convenience of an online service, we can reach patients wherever they are — at home, at work, or on the move.

What We Offer

From day one, 365Med provides a comprehensive range of services:

NHS Repeat Prescriptions — submit your prescription online and we will dispense and deliver your medicines directly to your door.
Pharmacy First — get treatment for seven common conditions, including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, and urinary tract infections, directly from our pharmacist without needing a GP appointment.
Private Prescriptions — we accept electronic and paper private prescriptions with fast, discreet delivery.
Contraception — access oral and emergency contraception quickly, confidentially, and without judgement.
Health Products — browse our range of vitamins, supplements, skincare, and over-the-counter medicines.

Regulated, Safe, and Transparent

Being GPhC-registered is not just a badge we display — it is a standard we are held to every single day. Every order is reviewed by a qualified pharmacist before it is dispensed. Every medicine is stored, handled, and dispatched to the highest standards. And every patient who contacts us receives honest, professional advice.

You can verify our registration at any time on the GPhC website.

This is Just the Beginning

This blog will be home to health guides, medicine advice, updates on our services, and practical tips from our pharmacist team. We will cover everything from managing long-term conditions to navigating the NHS — written in plain English, always evidence-based, and always with your wellbeing at the centre.

Thank you for choosing 365Med. We are proud to be your pharmacy.