Ordering repeat prescriptions
The quickest and easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account
- using the GP online system: SystmOnline
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need. Please add in the free text box if there is any information that is relevant to your repeat prescription. Please do not require acute or urgent medications via this box as they might be missed.
SystmOnline
Whereby we strongly encourage that ALL prescription requests are made via the app, we are aware that in certain circumstances this may not be possible. In such instances, we still accept telephone requests for items available on your repeat prescription between the hours of 11am – 12pm and 3pm – 4pm.
If you are going on holiday, please remember to order your medications in advance as this will not be treat as an urgent request.
Urgent prescription requests are not for requests for medication which have been ordered late as it is the responsibility of the patient to ensure prescriptions have been ordered in time. Medication can only be requested urgently if this is deemed as clinically urgent medication, whereby missing doses could result in serious illness. They are the only requests eligible for urgent issue by the practice and they will be sent to your pharmacy by the end of the working day.
Examples of urgent medications:
- Medication for High Blood Pressure, Angina or Heart Failure.
- All types of Insulin
- Anti-Epileptics
- Blood Thinners (Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Edoxaban, Tinzaparin)
- Reliever inhalers and Nebuliser Solutions
- Steroid Tablets, if taken daily (Prednisilone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone
- Adrenaline/Epi-pen
- Anti-rejection drugs: for transplant patients
- Medication for Parkinson’s Disease
- Anti-Psychotic Medication
- Medication for Schizophrenia/Bipolar Disorder/Psychosis
- Specialised Baby Milks
This policy is put in place to protect our patients and our staff. Our reception and administrative team are always to follow the above policy and are not authorised to make any exceptions. It is not safe to interrupt the duty GP during surgery.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 48 hours 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
Prescription Queries
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. If your query is about delivery of your medication, please contact your nominated pharmacy.
If you need to contact the surgery about a query with regards to your medication, please complete an e consult and we will contact you within 2-3 working days.
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.
Pharmacy First
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
For more information on the help you can get via Pharmacy First, click here
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not always need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
Medication reviews
Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice pharmacist at least once a year to review these regular medications and a notification should appear on your repeat slip.
Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges
What to do with old medicines
Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
Hospital Prescriptions
When you are seen at the Hospital and are given a hospital prescription, you should not leave the hospital without attending the hospital pharmacy to collect the medication. A hospital prescription is not valid in community Pharmacies.
Please do not bring the prescription to the surgery for us to convert to a practice prescription as some hospital medications are not licensed to be prescribed in general practice.
Private Prescriptions
Please do not bring private prescriptions to the surgery for us to convert to NHS prescriptions. You will need to take them to a local pharmacy and pay the charge for your privately issued medication.
For patients who are getting medication prescribed privately via Online Pharmacies (i.e. weight loss injections such as Mounjaro, Wegovy etc), we strongly advise patients to obtain a patient summary from the practice to forward onto the chosen prescriber. The GP Surgery will not be monitoring any such medications unless they are being prescribed by the Practice for management of Diabetes.