Ordering Repeat Prescriptions
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 directly from your nominated pharmacy who will send your request to the practice. However, the easiest and most convenient way to order repeat prescriptions is through your NHS app or the NHS website.
Your account shows you all your repeat medicine and dosage and allows you to choose the medication you need..
You can check the status of prescription request on the app or website once it has been submitted.
You can also:
- Use our Online Reception to order a repeat prescription
- If you are unable to use any of the methods mentioned you can complete a paper form at the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or via email.
Ordering An Urgent Prescription
Please ensure you order your medication in a timely manner. If you leave your prescription request too late, we cannot guarantee it will be processed in time. To avoid delays, please submit your request 7 calendar days before it is due to ensure you receive your medication when you need it.
Urgent prescription requests will be processed as soon as possible and within 3 working days. When submitting an urgent request, you must let us know how many days of medication you have remaining.
The easiest way to order an urgent prescription is through our Online Reception. Please follow the same steps as for ordering a repeat prescription—your request will be prioritised based on its urgency.
If you need an immediate emergency prescription, you can visit your nominated pharmacy. They can provide a 3 day supply while you wait for us to complete your prescription request.
If your nominated pharmacy is closed you can request an emergency supply using your NHS app or 111 Emergency Prescription service. You will be asked a few questions, including your location, the medication you need and when your next dose is due.
Going On Holiday
If you’re taking medicines for a health condition, and you’re planning on being away from home for a while, you need to be prepared before travelling.
If you are travelling outside the UK and you have a health condition which requires prescription medicines, we will be able to prescribe a maximum of 3 months supply.
If you are going to be away for more than 3 months, you should ask for a summary confirming the details of the medicines you are taking, this will enable the doctor you see while abroad to prescribe the appropriate medicine. You can do this by contacting us via our Online Reception or visiting the practice.
You can also contact the relevant country’s embassy or high commission for advice before you go.
Please ensure that if you are going on holiday, any prescription requests are made at least 7 days prior to your departure date to ensure any required medication can be processed and provided to provide the sufficient amount. Let us know the date of departure and how long you will be away for and the medicines you need.
The easiest way to order medication when going on holiday is through our Online Reception.
Taking Medicine Abroad
Different countries have different rules and regulations about which medicines they allow in or how much of a particular drug you can carry. To avoid risking your health or having a nasty experience with foreign customs, make sure you check all the facts before you leave.
Some prescribed medicines, such as Temazepam and Ritalin, contain controlled drugs meaning they are subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs legislation and there are limits to the amount you are allowed to take abroad. If you need to take more than the maximum allowance, you will need a special license from the Home Office. See the HM Customs and Excise website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/ to check the permitted allowances on various drugs.
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.
Further information can be obtained from the NHS 24 website at http://www.nhs24.com/.
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
If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on medicines you can buy without a prescription.
The NHS website has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.
You can also request information about your prescription via our Online Reception. A member of our prescription team will get back to you at their earliest opportunity. Please note that your prescription should be with your pharmacy 3 working days after you have requested it.
Medication Reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, you may be invited to participate in a regular medication review. This review helps ensure that your medication remains appropriate and effective for your needs. We will contact you when it is time to arrange this review.
To help carry out these reviews, we have partnered with the Medicines Management Team (TMMT), whose clinical pharmacists will be completing medication reviews on behalf of the practice, under our guidance. You will be contacted when it is time to arrange your review.
You can find out more about The Medicines Management Team by following the link: TMMT
Prescription Charges
Prescription charges apply to each item on your prescription, not per prescription itself. For example, if your prescription includes three different medicines, you will need to pay the prescription charge three times.
Some items are always exempt from charges, including contraception and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients.
If you expect to pay for 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 (nhs.uk).
What To Do With Old Medicines
Returning medication to your local pharmacy is the easiest and most responsible way to dispose of expired or unused medicines. Pharmacies in the UK are equipped to handle medication disposal safely and in line with UK legislation. They ensure all returned medications are incinerated in a controlled environment to avoid harm to people, animals, and the environment.
To return medication to the pharmacy, simply:
- Gather all your expired or unused medications.
- Keep them in their original packaging if possible.
- Take them to your local pharmacy and inform the pharmacist you wish to dispose of them.
- The pharmacist will then handle disposal from here.
Pharmacists will accept a range of medications, including prescription medication and over the counter medication, so you can have peace of mind that your old or unused medication will be accepted no matter what it is.
About Pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor infections and skin conditions to allergies and aches, community pharmacists are well-equipped to provide advice, recommend over-the-counter medications and in some cases, even prescribe necessary treatments.:
- 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 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.