Prescriptions

Key Messages for Patients/Carers/Nominated Family of Friends

The quickest and easiest way to order repeat medication is via the NHS APP or other mobile applications.

• Check how many days of medication you have left before ordering your medication.
• Order repeat medication from your GP practice when you have 7 days of medication left.
• It usually takes the GP practice 2 working days to issue a prescription.
• Once the pharmacy receives the prescription it can take them 48 hours to prepare it.
• Remember to only order the medication that’s needed for the month.
• It’s not necessary to order medication every month for it to stay on repeat prescription.
• Speak to your pharmacy or GP Practice to organise for the prescription to be sent electronically.
• Speak to their pharmacy about what services they offer e.g., prescription collection and delivery.
• Please speak to your GP practice if you are unable to order repeat medication yourself, and don’t have someone else to help.

Repeat Prescriptions

Please ensure you list the items you actually need when you request a new prescription. Patients often request the whole list when only some are needed, which can waste a considerable amount of NHS money.

To order a repeat of your prescription do one of the following:

• You may request a repeat prescription by letter, but always enclose a stamped addressed envelope to ensure the request is processed swiftly.
• You may also order your prescription at the reception desk.
• Online via Patient Access.

Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed. Any problems please telephone the surgery. Remember that sometimes your doctor may request that you are seen before receiving a further prescription. This is because they need to check that your ongoing medication is working adequately and not causing you any problems.

Please note that we cannot accept prescription requests over the phone.

Patient Access

If you’re registered for Patient Access then you can visit the Patient Access website to order your repeat prescriptions. If you’ve not registered for Patient Access, but would like to then you’ll need to come into the surgery with ID and a member of staff will be able to print an access key for you to access our system.

Patient Access is an online system that connects with the practices clinical system and also enables you to book some appointments at the surgery online. If you can’t see an option to order repeat prescriptions from your Patient Access account, then just contact the surgery so that we can change your account settings.

Electronic Prescription Service

If you order your medication online and you have nominated a pharmacy via the electronic prescription service (EPS), then you can collect your medication straight from the pharmacy.

If you have not nominated a pharmacy and would like to know more about EPS, then please speak to your Community Pharmacy of choice.

Prescription Fees

Get help with prescription costs

Prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) are available in England and can save you money.

NHS prescription costs

• current prescription charge – £9.35 per item
• three-month PPC – £30.25; this will save you money if you need more than three prescribed items in three months
• 12-month PPC – £108.10; this will save you money if you need more than 12 prescribed items in a year

PPCs are available by 10 monthly direct debit instalment payments. The certificates allow anyone to obtain all the prescriptions they need for £2 a week.

Find out more about the prescription prepayment certificate on the NHS website by clicking the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/

If you need to access the services below, the medicines you’re prescribed are free:

• medicines administered at a hospital or an NHS Walk-in Centre
• prescribed contraceptives
• medicines personally administered by a GP
• medicines supplied at a hospital or Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) clinic for the treatment of:

– A sexually transmitted infection, click the following link for more information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/

– Tuberculosis, click the following link for more information on  Tuberculosis https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/

– Or a mental disorder for those subject to a supervised community treatment order (CTO), click the following link for more information: https://www.cqc.org.uk/help-advice/mental-health-capacity/information-people-subject-community-treatment-orders-ctos

Click the link below to find out when to visit an urgent treatment centre (walk-in centre or minor injury unit): https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-visit-an-urgent-treatment-centre-walk-in-or-minor-injury-unit/