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Patients on long-term medication can order repeat prescriptions in a number of ways:
- By Hand – drop your repeat slip in at reception with the required items clearly marked.
- By Post – send it to us with a stamped addressed envelope if you want us to post it back to you.
- By Fax
- Online using EMIS access
- Via a Pharmacy - by prior arrangement with them.
Please note we cannot accept requests for repeat prescriptions over the telephone.
Please allow two full working days (48 hours) between requesting and collecting your medication.
If you are requesting via a pharmacy you should allow another two days and if posting allow at least five days.
We would strongly advise you to avail of the Electronic Prescribing System (EPS) which allows you to order scripts and have them collected at your nearest Pharmacy. You can register for this by contacting your local Pharmacy or the Surgery.
Medication Reviews
Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see either a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Read more about Prescription charges and exemptions.
Repeat Prescribing Policy Update
- Requesting information: You can request scripts by Fax in addition to previous listed methods
- Electronic prescribing System (EPS): You are encouraged to use the EPS service. This speeds up the delivery of your scripts to your nearest pharmacy without the need to travel to the Surgery.
You can have a 'nominated pharmacy' for medicines and a different 'nominated dispensing appliance contractor' if using appliances like 'stomas' or 'catheters'.
Controlled drugs cannot be issued by EPS
- Medication request for items not listed on Repeat list should make request in writing, if necessary using a form available from the reception.
- Generic Prescribing: In principle the Practice prescribes generically.
Some drugs are not substituted by generics and this can be checked with the Doctor at your medication review. The Surgery has to adhere to the local prescribing policies but in case you have an issue with medication please make an appointment to discuss this with your GP.
- Local prescribing policy: provides guidance to the Doctors and Nurses regarding cost effective prescribing and consistency with local policies needs to be adhered to.
- Quantity Prescribed: New medication is usually prescribed for 1 month initially.
Controlled drugs, antipsychotics, antidepressants and cytotoxic drugs requiring monitoring are prescribed for maximum of 1 month.
Inhalers are prescribed usually a maximum of 2 of each type.
Scripts for contraceptive pill are prescribed for 6 months. If an annual pill check is due, a months supply will be issued with an invitation message for a pill check.
It is advisable that scripts for patients are issued simultaneously and if you have concerns about medication being issued on different dates, please contact pharmacy or the Surgery to request a synchronization of repeats.
- Adding of Repeat medication: Medication is usually updated from your hospital letters by the Doctor in the Surgery. It may happen that the letter from hospital has not been received. While requesting new medication therefore, it is advisable that you drop a copy of any letter you may have requesting change or commencement of medication.
Please inform the GP of any other over the counter medication you are taking as some medicines like St John's wort can cause serious adverse effects with prescribed medication.
- Medication review: In general a medication is done every 12 months but in certain situations a shorter review date may be authorized by the Doctor where patient is on antidepressants, strong analgesics, hypertension medication or on multiple drugs. This also applies to medication requiring regular blood tests and monitoring of kidney/liver function or other investigations.
Patients with medication reviews overdue for a month will be sent a message on prescriptions to book with the Doctor.
If a medication review is declined or there is no contact with the patient despite 3 reminders, the Doctor may stop further issues if safety concerns or reduce the quantity of medication prescribed. Lifesaving medication like Insulin, anticoagulants or antiepileptics will not be stopped but quantities may be significantly reduced to encourage patients to come in. This will not apply to housebound patients who can inform the Practice of their disability if not on Practice 'Housebound list'.
- Prescription Collection: The person collecting the script will be asked the name, date of birth and or/other ID.
Prescriptions not collected within a month will be deleted from computer records and then destroyed
Controlled drug prescriptions are valid for one month only
- Prescriptions requested by a private doctor: The issuing of NHS prescriptions, as a replacement for private prescriptions issued from secondary care, will be at the GPs discretion, ie, if the GP takes clinical responsibility for monitoring. In cases where the GP is not comfortable with taking responsibility, patient may be asked to contact hospital for prescriptions.
If patient has attended a private hospital or clinic, the Provider there must fax or write a letter to suggest a prescription making it clear that it is an NHS contract.
- Patients going abroad: If a patient is travelling abroad the Practice can supply up to 3 months of medication.
Patients staying abroad for longer than 3 months should get in touch with the Local CCG for guidance.
Patients requiring 'just in case' medication will be issued private prescriptions.
Anti-malarials are only on private prescriptions as are travel vaccinations.
- New Patients: Medication confirmed by the previous GP will be put on Acutes and can be moved to Repeats only after the first consultation with the Doctor. A message to the patient and pharmacy will be added to the script to advised patient to book an appointment with the Doctor.
- All unused medication should be returned to the pharmacy and not to the practice.