Repeat Prescriptions and Medication

Ordering Repeat Prescriptions

Online Reception
How to Set Up the NHS app

Please order your repeat prescription 7 calendar days before it is due as this will allow sufficient time for our team to complete your request

You can order repeat prescriptions in several ways:

  • You can order directly from your nominated pharmacy, who will send your request to the practice
  • The easiest and most convenient way is through your NHS app or the NHS website. Your account shows all your repeat medicines and dosages and allows you to choose the medication you need. You can also check the status of your prescription request once it has been submitted
  • You can use our Online Reception to order a repeat prescription
  • If you are unable to use any of the above methods, you can complete a paper form at the surgery from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm

Please note that we do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or via email.

Urgent Prescription

Online Reception
How to Set Up the NHS app

To ensure you receive your medication on time, please submit your prescription request at least 7 calendar days before it is due. Requests submitted later may not be processed in time.

Urgent Prescriptions

  • Processed as soon as possible, within 3 working days
  • When submitting, indicate how many days of medication you have remaining
  • The easiest way is through our Online Reception. Submit your request as you would for a repeat prescription—urgency will be prioritised
  • Once your request has been submitted please be patient and await the response from our prescription team

Emergency Prescriptions

  • For an immediate 3-day supply, visit your nominated pharmacy while your prescription is being processed
  • If your pharmacy is closed, you can request an emergency supply via the NHS App or 111 Emergency Prescription Service. You’ll need to provide your location, medication, and when your next dose is due

Going On Holiday

Online Reception

If you take prescription medicines and are planning to travel, please make sure you are prepared before you go.

Maximum Supply for Travel

  • If you are travelling outside the UK, we can prescribe a maximum of 3 months’ supply of your medicines
  • If you will be away for more than 3 months, we cannot provide your full medication for the whole trip. Instead, we can give you a summary of your prescriptions to share with a doctor abroad, who can then provide the medicines you need

Before You Travel

  • Request your medication at least 7 days before your departure date.
  • Tell us:
    • Your date of departure
    • How long you will be away
    • The medicines you need
  • The easiest way to order is through our Online Reception.

Taking Medicine Abroad

Different countries have different rules about which medicines are allowed and how much you can carry. To protect your health and avoid problems with customs, it is important to check all regulations before you travel.

Controlled Medicines

Some prescribed medicines, such as Temazepam and Ritalin, contain controlled drugs. These are subject to UK laws under the Misuse of Drugs legislation.

  • There are limits on how much you can take abroad
  • If you need to carry more than the maximum allowance, you must obtain a special license from the UK Home Office

Check allowances here: HM Customs & Excise

Country-Specific Restrictions

Some countries, including India, Pakistan, and Turkey, maintain lists of medicines that are not allowed. Always check with the embassy before traveling.

Find embassy contact details here: UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Tips for Traveling with Medicines

  • Check restrictions well in advance to avoid delays or confiscation.at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/ to check the permitted allowances on various drugs
  • Carry medicines in their original packaging
  • Bring your prescription or doctor’s note
  • Only carry the amount needed for personal use
  • Countries such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have lists of medicines that they won’t allow in the country so it is worth visiting the UK Foreign and Commonwealth website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/ for a full list of embassy contact details that way you can check well in advance

More health advice: NHS 24

Collecting Your Prescription

You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 working days after you have ordered it.

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:

  • on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
  • at your GP practice
  • at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

Questions About Your Prescription

Questions About Your Medicine?

Ask Your Pharmacist
Your local pharmacist can answer questions about prescription medicines and those you can buy over the counter.

NHS Medicine Information
Find out how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects, and answers to common questions: Medicines A to Z.

Prescription Requests
Request information about your prescription via our Online Reception. Our prescription team will respond as soon as possible. Prescriptions should be available at your pharmacy within 3 working days

Medication Reviews

If you have a repeat prescription, you may be invited to take part in a regular medication review. These reviews ensure your medicines remain safe, appropriate, and effective for your needs. We will contact you when it’s time to schedule your review.

To support these reviews, we work with the Medicines Management Team (TMMT). Their clinical pharmacists carry out medication reviews on behalf of the practice, under our guidance. You will be contacted when it’s time to arrange your review.

Find out more about the Medicines Management Team (TMMT).

Prescription Charges

Prescription charges apply to each item on your prescription, not per prescription. For example, if your prescription includes three different medicines, you will need to pay the charge for each item.

Some items are always exempt from charges, such as contraception and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients.

If you need multiple NHS prescriptions, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC), which covers prescription costs for a set period.

Find out more about prescription charges.

What To Do With Old Medicines

Pharmacies in the UK can safely dispose of medications in line with UK law. All returned medicines are incinerated in a controlled environment to protect people, animals, and the environment.

To return your medication:

  1. Gather all expired or unused medicines
  2. Keep them in their original packaging if possible
  3. Take them to your local pharmacy and let the pharmacist know you wish to dispose of them

Pharmacists will accept a wide range of medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, so you can be confident your old or unused medicines will be safely handled.

Pharmacy Advice and Support

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer advice on a wide range of conditions, from minor infections and skin issues to allergies and aches. They can recommend over-the-counter medicines and, in some cases, prescribe treatments.

Common conditions pharmacists can help with include:

  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throats
  • Earache
  • Infected insect bites
  • Impetigo
  • Shingles
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women (16–64)
  • Tummy trouble
  • Aches and pains

Many pharmacies are open late and at weekends, and no appointment is needed. Most have private consultation rooms where you can discuss your health concerns confidentially.

Find a pharmacy near you: nhs.uk.