Prescriptions are computer generated. Our software will help us to know about any potential conflicts and interactions.
- We send your prescriptions electronically by Electronic Prescriptions Service (‘ePS’ -see below) to your ‘nominated’ pharmacy. You do not have to collect a paper prescription – just go to the pharmacy to collect your medicines
- Tell us where to send them – you can change any time and do this online yourself on the Patient app. (‘My account’) or at the pharmacy.
It is best to order your own medicines so that you receive what you need, when you need it and it is really easy, especially using the online App. Some patients leaving it to pharmacies to order for them have ended up with large stock-piles of medicines they did not need.
- One-off or occasional medicines can be requested using Patchs. Please fill in full details in order to avoid errors. We may need to speak to you or see you first.
- Repeat Prescriptions are for medication used regularly – see below.
- Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) can be used for some patients on regular medicines. We pre-authorise a number of months’ worth so the Pharmacist is able to give your medication on regularly without any further requests. This will not suit everyone and requires special consideration.
If you have trouble remembering to take your regular medicines you can ask the Pharmacist about Medication Dosing Aids such as multi-compartment ‘dosette’ boxes or sealed ‘Nomad’ dispensing trays that the Pharmacist can prepare individually. They will be automatically delivered every 2 weeks and have compartments labelled for each time you need to take medication, so it’s easier to see what you have taken and what is due. It can be a bit of problem if you need changes made before the next try is delivered.
More about EPS
Electronic Prescription Service (ePS)
We send your prescriptions direct to your chosen pharmacy instead of printing them out, so the pharmacy can get them ready for you without having to take the prescription along. All you have to do is ask the doctor, the receptionist or at the pharmacy. You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time.
It makes it easier and quicker to obtain your repeat prescriptions – just request them on-line (or in writing) and then collect the medicines from the pharmacy after 48hr business hours.
It is still important to see you from time to time to make sure all of your monitoring checks are up to date, so please take note of the messages we send that the pharmacist will pass on to you.
Electronic prescriptions is safer, save you time and saves the wasteful printing of coded paper prescriptions. It is estimated that if all prescriptions were produced electronically, an average practice would save a seven foot pile of prescriptions each year (and as we are larger we should save maybe a 20 foot pile). Stopping paper prescriptions would also prevent a lot of prescription fraud each year.
Download the EPS Patient Leaflet
You can find information about EPS here
More about Repeat Dispensing
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)
This can suit some patients on long term stable medication, especially those who can find it difficult to request medicines. If we are happy a patient’s condition is stable and unlikely to need changes in their medication in the foreseeable future, we can send a batch of prescriptions electronically to the Pharmacist for up to a year ahead and they can dispense the medicines on a regular basis without any further requests. This can suit housebound patients who have their regular medicines delivered but many other people can benefit too, so if you would like to consider it, speak to the Doctor or Pharmacist. There are, however, potential complexities with operating the system, particularly if you need changes made.
Repeat Prescriptions
Once you are stabilised on a medicine that you will need long term, we give a 2 month (56 day) supply at a time – except for certain potentially more dangerous drugs or conditions, or unless you are over 75yrs, when you will receive a one month (28 day) supply.
- Request your repeat prescriptions online using the NHS app, Patient App. or similar.
- Requesting online is really easy and safe. If you are unable to request online, we can still accept paper requests but it is likely to lead to delays and more checks. Please use the printed counterfoil provided by the Pharmacist and tick the items required and send it to us or hand in at reception. If you lose this slip, please ask at reception for a request form for your medicines.
Fax has been phased out of the NHS due to insecurities so we cannot accept faxed prescription requests.
Due to safety concerns we cannot accept telephone requests for repeat prescriptions.
Please wait at least 3-5 days for us to process your request and send to the pharmacy (extended due to capacity restrictions). If you have repeat prescriptions you should be able to see easily when you are running short and order in good time.
Urgent requests – if you need for a repeat prescription due to unforeseen circumstances. Your pharmacist can issue a short-term emergency supply, so you should never run out. If you have an exceptional or critical need please speak to a receptionist as soon as possible and we’ll try and help. If you attend a hospital clinic and you are told it is urgent to start, the hospital has a responsibility to provide this. If another doctor wishes to start a new medicine, we need written instructions before we can issue, for safety.
Pharmacy ordering and delivery Some pharmacists offer an ordering and delivery service for you, even sending you reminders. We prefer you remain in control of your ordering as often we have found patients receiving many items they did not want. Make sure you tell the Pharmacist if you don’t need certain items – do not let them order automatically without checking what you need as it can lead to wastage.
Medication reviews are needed, usually every 6 or 12 months, occasionally more frequently and we shall ask you to make an appointment with the doctor or nurse. There are certain important checks we need to perform to ensure your medicines are still doing their job and are not causing any problems and that your condition is monitored. When the computer indicates a review is due, please do not delay as the computer blocks any further issues once you are overdue. If you have been unable to come in time, please NEVER stop your medicines; let us know the circumstances and we shall issue a prescription to keep you going.
Ask us to help synchronise your medicines so you can request them all in one go.
Certain medicines such as the Contraceptive Pill or HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be supplied in 6 month quantities for your convenience but to do this the nurse or doctor may need to see you.
Prescription Charges
You will need to pay the Pharmacist the Prescription Charge (currently £9.35) for each individual item (ie a pair of support stockings will be £18.70), unless you are exempt from charges.
A pre-payment certificate may be cheaper if you are likely to require more than 12 individual items over a 12 month period (it currently costs £108.10, or for 3 months, £30.25).
Many people do not have to pay prescription charges e.g. due to age, certain benefits, pregnancy, certain medical conditions, for medicines received at hospital or walk-in centres etc. For full information on prescription charges and all the different exemption categories (it’s very complex!): NHS prescription charges