PRESCRIPTIONS & ORDERING
HOW TO ORDER YOUR PRESCRIPTION
For safety reasons, we are unable to accept prescription requests over the phone. From the moment we receive the request, we require 72 working hours (weekends and bank holidays are therefore excluded) to process your request. Please allow sufficient time to order your medication.
Our policy is to provide prescriptions for a period of 28 days. This allows us to monitor your medication and ensure that you are kept aware of any necessary checks you need to undergo because of your medication. Exceptions to the 28-day policy are HRT and contraceptive medications. If you are unsure, please discuss this with your doctor. Or you may be suitable for repeat dispensing.
WHAT YOU CAN ORDER:
Only medication that has been agreed by the doctor can be requested as a repeat prescription item. Should you require an item that you have had in the past but is not on your repeat medication list, please book a telephone consultation with a GP or a Nurse Practitioner. Please follow this link here: Admin Query - What is this about? (accurx.com)
A list of medicines available on the NHS is available here: Medicines A-Z - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Repeat prescriptions are medications which appear on your prescription slip which the doctor would like you to continue on a regular basis. Your list can also be found on your online account.
- Online - we strongly recommend that you register at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/ so that you can order medication at your convenience and don't need to come to the surgery.
- Pharmacy Collection Service - many pharmacists now run schemes to order repeat prescriptions for you. Enquire about this with your pharmacist.
- In person - please use the tear off portion of your prescription to tick the items you need repeated and drop it off in the black post box at Central Surgery reception. Please only order medications that you need.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR PRESCRIPTION
COLLECTING YOUR PRESCRIPTION
All prescriptions will be sent to your nominated pharmacy. If you do not have one nominated, then you will need to nominate your nearest chemist, you can do this via the NHS app. For some/few medications, the prescription must be printed off and taken to the pharmacy in person. You will always be notified if this is the case for your prescription. Please follow this link to find your local NHS pharmacy: Find a pharmacy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns.
As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
Disposing of old medicines
If your medicine is out of date, unwanted, or some of it is left over after you have stopped taking it, do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet. Instead, take it to your pharmacy to be disposed of safely.
Over-the-counter medicines
Did you know that your local NHS spends £15m a year on prescribing medicines that are available to buy at the pharmacy?
Following national guidance from NHS England, our GPs are asked not to prescribe these medicines (there are some exceptions, see the below link), including for conditions such as coughs, colds, headaches, mouth ulcers, travel sickness and mild toothache.
Your GP will not generally give you a prescription for over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. Instead, over-the-counter medicines are available to buy at your local pharmacy.
Please click on the link below for medications available over the counter at your local pharmacy and are not prescribed by the surgery as we adhere to the SWLICB formulary. If you want to understand more, please follow this link https://www.swljointmedicinesformulary.nhs.uk/
NHS Charges
See this link for up to date NHS Charges: NHS prescription charges - NHS (www.nhs.uk)