Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.

You can also:

  • bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.30pm

We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.

Collecting your prescription

You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 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

Online Access

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.

When you start a new medicine for a long term condition you can have up to 3 appointments with a pharmacist to:

  • – answer any questions you have
  • – help you use the medicine safely
  • – make sure that the medicine’s right for you

Get help with newly prescribed medicines

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.

Prescription charges

Find out more about prescription charges

What to do with old medicines

If your medicine is out of date or unwanted, do not put it in the bin or flush it down the toilet. Take it to your pharmacy to be disposed of safely.

Pharmacy First Prescriptions

Pharmacists can suggest treatments that do not need a prescription for a range of conditions.

Most pharmacies can also offer prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment. This is called Pharmacy First.

Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:

  • impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
  • infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
  • earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
  • sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
  • sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
  • shingles (aged 18 years and over)

If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice and support decisions about self care treatment with over the counter medicines, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other health professional if needed.

Most pharmacies can provide prescription medicine for these conditions but contact them before visiting to check.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Contraceptive Pills

Some pharmacies may offer the contraceptive pill for free without a prescription. If you are aged 18 years or older, you can also buy the progesterone-only pill from most pharmacies.

Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription

Hospital and Dental Prescriptions

When discharged from hospital you should be given an adequate supply of medication to take home with you. You should not be told to contact the GP for an urgent prescription.

If a hospital doctor suggests some new medicine, they should give you a prescription for the initial supply.  You should not be told to contact the GP for the first prescription.

If a Dentist feels you need sedative medication for a dental procedure, they can arrange for a prescription and appropriate, safe monitoring themselves.  If they do not have the necessary expertise at the dental practice, they can refer you to a dental centre that does, including hospital dentists.  You should not be told to ask the GP to prescribe sedation.

GPs are not trained in managing dental problems and simply treating dental pain with antibiotics will not eliminate the source of infection if one is present. Sometimes dental abscesses can lead to serious complications if not managed appropriately by seeing a dentist. If you are not registered with a dentist already, you can contact 111 who will be able to signpost you to appropriate urgent dental services if required.

Electronic Prescriptions

January 2017 saw the practice move to electronic prescribing. This means that your prescription goes electronically to a Pharmacy of your choice without having to have a paper copy to physically hand over to the Pharmacist. Can patients please ensure that they let us know their nominated Pharmacy as soon as possible so that we can enter this onto the electronic system.

Patients going on holiday in the UK can nominate a Pharmacy at their holiday location whilst away from home if you need your medications whilst away. Please let the practice know if you wish to do this prior to your holiday.

A Guide to 28 Day Prescribing