How to order your medication
Prescriptions can be requested quickly and easily online. Please use one of the below options to do this. We recommend the NHS app, due to it’s functionality with our clinical system. You can also contact your preferred pharmacy who can order prescriptions on your behalf, by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications or by submitting a handwritten request.
Download the NHS App, or open the NHS website in a web browser, to set up and log in to your NHS account. Owned and run by the NHS, your NHS account is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services online, including appointments, prescriptions and health record.
NHS App
It is easier and quicker to manage request repeat prescriptions via our online service. Simply log in and select an option.
Please allow two full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.
Your Repeat Medication
If you need regular medication and your doctor does not need to see you every time, you will be issued with ‘repeat prescription’. When you collect a prescription you will see that it is perforated down the centre. The left-hand side is the actual prescription.The right-hand side (re-order slip) shows a list of medicines that you can request without booking an appointment to see a doctor. Please tear off this section (and keep it) before handing the prescription to the chemist for dispensing.
Run out or just about to run out of medication requests
Unfortunately a small minority of patients are repeatedly running out (or just about to run out) of their medication. ‘Urgent’ requests of this nature cause a great deal of disruption to the smooth running of the practice. Please be aware that such requests will be questioned very carefully by the reception staff and may well be refused by the GP. A record is kept of such requests, and may well be refused by the GP.
Help with your Prescription
If you forget to request a Repeat Prescription
If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and thus run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your Pharmacy. Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, Pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine, without having to get a prescription from your GP.
If you have run out of important medication, telephone your usual Pharmacy to check that they offer this service; if they don’t, they may either direct you to another Pharmacy who does provide it, or ask you to phone 111 where you can request details of a local Pharmacy that provides the service.
You must then take with you to the relevant Pharmacy, proof of both your identification and of your medication (for example, your repeat prescription list or the empty box which should have your details printed on it). Please note that controlled drugs and antibiotics are not provided through this service, you will need to ring 111 for these.
If you receive stoma products from your Pharmacy or other supplier and/or receive items such as continence products, please ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining these over Bank Holidays, or when the Surgery is closed.
Help with NHS Costs
If you need help with NHS costs or need to find out if you can get free prescriptions please click the button below for further information.
Repeat Prescriptions – A short guide to safe and effective use of your medication
Following these simple steps will help make sure that you use your medicines safely, get the most out of them and help to prevent waste. When ordering your repeat prescription, please use your GP’s online ordering system or use the most recent repeat prescription request form. Check the medicines you already have at home before you order so that you only order the medicines you need. It is important not to stockpile medicines at home If you are using a repeat prescription request form then cross out the medicines that you don’t need (you will still be able to order them in the future) and record the number of items ordered.
Remember to sign and date the form.
If you are picking up medicines from your pharmacy and you realise that you have ordered items that you don’t really need, give these back before leaving. You prescription can be adjusted accordingly.
- A yearly medication review by your GP will help make sure that the medicines you are taking are still helping you
- Your local pharmacist can help you with practical advice about your medicines such as how to manage potential side-effects or how to take your medicines effectively for example time of day or with food
- Excessive medicines at home may be a safety risk to you and others
- The medicines may be out of date, may no longer be appropriate for
- your medical condition or may lead to you taking too much medication
- As a patient or carer you are the best person to order the correct amount of repeat medicines as you can check what is needed before ordering.
- If you lose your repeat prescription request slip, your GP practice receptionist can print another for you.
Additional information
Medicines requested by Hospital Specialists
Specialists will often suggest particular medication at a hospital appointment and ask us to prescribe for you. To ensure your safety we do need to receive written information from the specialist before prescribing. Sometimes a medicine is suggested that is not in our local formulary. There is nearly always a close alternative, and specialists are told that we sometimes make suitable substitutions when you are referred. We will always let you know if this is the case.
Medication reviews
The Doctors at the Practice regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets and is in accordance with current Health Authority policies. Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may sometimes call you in for a medication review and this may involve blood tests. It is very important that you attend these appointments, as it keeps you safe whilst taking medication.
Non-repeat items (acute requests)
Non-repeat prescriptions, known as ‘acute’ prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period, and may require a review visit with your Doctor prior to the medication being added onto your repeat prescription records.
Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the Doctor. Examples include many anti-depressants, drugs of potential abuse or where the prescribing is subject to legal or clinical restrictions or special criteria. If this is the case with your medicine, you may not always be issued with a repeat prescription until you have consulted with your Doctor again.
Over the Counter Medicines
A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.
Your Home Medicine Cupboard
It is well worth keeping a small stock of useful medicines at home in your (locked) first aid cupboard. For instance, pain killers (analgesics) such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or aspirin (children under 16 and people with asthma should not take aspirin), or Ibuprofen syrups for children, Mild laxatives, Anti-diarrhoeal medicines, Indigestion remedy (for example, antacids) Travel sickness tablets, and Sunscreen – SPF15 or higher Sunburn treatment (for example, calamine). For more detail see NHS UK Medicine Chest.