The Medicine Order Line (MOL) - Christmas 2025

The Medicine Order Line (MOL) - Shared on behalf of Derbyshire Prescription Service (incorporating the MOL and PMC teams) NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board / Joined Up Care Derbyshire

As we approach the Christmas period, we anticipate higher demand and increased call volumes. To manage this, the MOL will follow the same Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) used for other bank holidays throughout the year — accepting prescription requests up to 14 days before the due date (instead of the usual 7 days).

To clarify, if a patient’s medication is due during the Christmas period (w/c 22nd and 29th December), the MOL will accept the request 14 days prior to the due date.

For example, if medication is due on 26th December, the MOL will accept the request from 12th December.

Controlled Drugs will continue to be managed as usual, with prescriptions future-dated to the due date on the clinical system. These will not be issued early; however, if the due date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, they will be future-dated to two working days prior, to allow pharmacies time to order any required stock.

We kindly ask that you encourage patients to use online ordering options, such as the NHS App, the MOL online ordering form, or other online services. These options will remain available throughout the Christmas period.

Attached is a PowerPoint slide containing key information about Christmas ordering. This can be displayed on TV screens, shared with patients via text message (as a PDF), or printed and displayed in your surgery.

Thank you for your continued support of the service.

Derbyshire Prescription Service (incorporating the MOL and PMC teams) NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board / Joined Up Care Derbyshire