Repeat Prescriptions
Your doctor may decide to prescribe medication on a repeat basis. This means that you can usually order your regular medications without the need to see a doctor. Please place your order up to two weeks before you run out. Please note that we do not accept telephone requests for repeat medication unless under exceptional circumstances.
You can arrange for one of the local Pharmacy collection schemes to order and collect your repeat prescription for you and then collect the medication directly from them, you can usually order by telephone with the pharmacies.
Electronic Prescribing - EPS enables prescribers - such as GPs and practice nurses - to send prescriptions electronically to a dispenser (such as a pharmacy) of the patient's choice. This makes the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff. Go along to your pharmacy of choice to sign up or ask Reception to allocate your nomination.
To watch a video explaining the EPS in more detail simply visit:
http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/eps/patients/films/theeps
Requesting Repeats
There is an order form attached to each printed repeat prescription indicating each repeat item. Please keep the order form safe to make it easier for you to request a further repeat prescription. Repeats prescriptions may be ordered in several ways:
- in person by leaving your request at main reception, the internal mailbox by the front door or the letterbox at the side door of surgery, either using the white side of a printed prescription of completing a Medication Request slip available at reception.
- by post. If you include a stamped self-addressed envelope this will be posted back to you. Otherwise the prescription will be available for collection from reception.
- online via the link at the top of this page to order via this website (registration required) and if it's your first time using you will need to search and add the medication you take.
- via Patient Access - you will need to complete an "application for online access" at the Surgery and supply two forms of id (photo and proof of address - a driving licence with your current address on will suffice) to use this service.
- via the NHS app.
It is important on the paper based methods of request that you indicate the medication required by ticking the items needed.
Please remember
The Prescription team can only issue medication that has previously been prescribed by your GP. Any medication requested not on your repeat slip or new requests from a hospital or other source will need to be authorised by your GP.This may delay your request for several days.
- Repeat prescriptions may normally be collected a minimum of three working days after request. Please allow enough time when ordering.
- Do not order repeat prescriptions more than 2 weeks before they are due except in exceptional circumstances, for example:
- You are going on holiday - let us know
- Prior to Bank and Public Holidays.
- Attend for medication reviews when requested or when your repeat slip shows your allowed number of repeats has expired. Certain medications require regular blood tests to be performed for monitoring and safety reasons.
- There may be additional information about your medication on the right hand side of your prescription.
Urgent Prescriptions
In exceptional circumstances we may be able to arrange a same day prescription. You will need to come into the Surgery before 10.30am in order for this to be processed for collection later that day. There is a list of medications that the doctors will treat as urgent if you have completely run out. If an item of medication is not on this list we cannot guarantee that it will be processed that day.
This facility is carefully monitored and should not be abused. Please give 3 working days’ notice whenever possible. We are not able to prepare prescriptions while you wait.
It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that their medication is ordered in good time.
Medication Reviews
If you are due for a medication review (your allocated number of repeats have expired) or your GP has requested that you book an appointment for review, please arrange this with Reception. Occasionally, your GP will be able to undertake the review from the details in your medical record. However, certain drugs used in chronic diseases management require monitoring in the form of blood tests. You may be asked to attend for a blood test prior to the review as part of the Practice's recall procedures. Some local Pharmacists are undertaking a process known as 'Medicines Use Review' or MUR. These are independent of the Practice medication review but may reveal problems you are having with your medication. The MUR is usually copied to your GP for inclusion in your computer record.
Important changes to your inhaler prescription
To ensure safe clinical management of your respiratory condition/asthma, in line with current local and national guidance, changes are being made to your prescription for reliever inhales Usually blue inhalers, such as salbutamol/ventolin.
Requests will NO longer be on repeat issue.
An acute request will be issued for one inhaler ONLY up to 4 requests/year. This will allow us to monitor/assess your respiratory control, alongside invitation and attendance for annual review.
Current guidance states "that those regularly using short acting bronchodilators (salbutamol etc) more than 3 times/week should be prescribed regular/daily corticosteroid inhalers (which you may also be currently taking).
Corticosteroid inhalers are treatments for symptom prevention and maintenance of asthma symptoms.
If you are exceeding expected reliever requests (ie on 4th request in a year), you will be issued with a reliever inhaler and requested to make an appointment with the Asthma nurse before any further issue will be approved.
If you have any concerns, please book an appointment for a respiratory review. Further information regarding these guidelines can be found online via Asthma UK, NICE Asthma guidelines and the British Thoracic Society.
Asthma UK Helpline (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) 0300 2225800
Pharmacy Collection Service and Home Delivery
Repeat prescriptions can be collected from your preferred pharmacy. Please ask at reception about this service and confirm with the Pharmacy that they are happy to order and collect the prescription on your behalf.
If you would like your medicines delivered, you must arrange this with your preferred pharmacy each time. We are not responsible for deliveries and cannot ensure that the pharmacy delivers on time.
In either case, please allow an extra day for processing collected or delivered medicines.