Non-urgent advice: Help us to Help you
Please only order medication that you need. It would be helpful if you ordered your medication in one go as needed, instead of asking for individual items between regular requests.
Please allow sufficient time to process your request. Your prescription will be ready from 4pm three working days after the day you ordered your medication.
We do not accept telephone requests for prescriptions as this can lead to errors.
1. Via the Pharmacy
Some patients will submit a written request to their Pharmacy and then leave it up to them to contact the practice to obtain a further prescription.
HELP US TO HELP YOU
Only request medication you need. If you have a concern about one of your medications, discuss this with the Pharmacist.
If you have taken a decision to stop taking medication, let your GP know, they may wish to discuss this choice with you. Please do not keep ordering medication you are not taking.
2. Online Request
Click here for details of our online service and how to sign up for this.
3. Electronic Prescription Service
This is often called EPS and is now available in most general practices.
EPS is reliable, secure and confidential.
Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.
If you usually collect repeat prescriptions you will not have to visit your GP practice just to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send the prescription electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.
The prescription is an electronic message so there is no paper prescription to lose.
You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop. Nominate your pharmacy! complete the form and send it to us.
If the prescription needs to be cancelled the GP can electronically cancel and issue a new prescription without having to return to the practice – saving you extra trips.
You may not have to wait as long as you usually do at the pharmacy as your repeat prescription can be made ready before you arrive.
You can get all these benefits if you:
- Have a stable condition
- Don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription
- Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time
- Use a prescription collection service
4. Repeat Dispensing
What is repeat dispensing?
Repeat dispensing (also known as batch prescriptions) is a new way to get your regular medicines without needing to request a prescription from your GP surgery each time.
How do I sign up?
If your regular medication is stable, you may be suitable for batch prescriptions. Contact your GP surgery for further information.
If you’re suitable for batch prescriptions, your GP surgery will authorise the pharmacy to issue up to 12 months of medicines. The duration supplied is based on your circumstances and clinical need.
How does it work after I’ve signed up?
Your batch prescriptions will be sent to your nominated pharmacy who will supply you with your medication at regular intervals. Instead of contacting your GP surgery, you will need to contact your pharmacy for your next instalment. Make sure to ask for your next ‘batch prescription’.
Will anyone be monitoring my medicines?
Please do not worry about this, your doctor or pharmacist will not make any changes to your medicines without talking to you.
Each time you collect your next prescription the pharmacy team should ask you the following questions:
- Have you seen any healthcare professionals (GP, nurse, hospital doctor etc) since your last batch prescription was prescribed?
- Have you recently started taking any new medication on prescription or bought any over the counter medicines? This includes herbal or alternative medicines.
- Have you been having any problems with your medication or been experiencing any side effects?
- Are there any items that you don’t need on this batch prescription?
What do I do after I’ve collected my last batch prescription?
The community pharmacist should let you know when you’ve collected your last batch prescription
You will need to contact your GP surgery to request a new batch of repeat dispensing prescriptions. At this time, you may need a medication review or routine tests to make sure that your medicines are still helping you.
Do I have to use the same pharmacy?
You may choose any pharmacy that dispenses NHS prescriptions; however it is easier to continue using your nominated pharmacy throughout the duration of your batch prescriptions.
Who can I contact if there is a problem?
If you have any problems speak to your pharmacist or one of the surgery staff.