Prescriptions

The safest way to order your repeat medication is to order on-line using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App). 

You may not be aware that your NHS account will track the status of your medication order and provide you progress updates.  It is important to review the tracking, as requests can be rejected from within the parameters of the NHS account and not be delivered to the surgery’s system.   

Please keep a check on your medication order status as we do not wish for you to come to the surgery expecting your medication to be ready when the request has failed delivery and a rejection message remains unactioned from within your account.

If you prefer not to use the internet, please use the printed slip that comes with your medication, allowing at least 3 working days only ticking the items needed.

Order Monday - Collect Thursday

Order Tuesday - Collect Friday

Order Wednesday - Collect Monday

Order Thursday - Collect Tuesday

Order Friday - Collect Wednesday

You can then

• drop it into the repeat prescriptions box situated in the reception foyer
• put it through the letter box if we are closed
• post it to us

We would prefer you to use these methods rather than the telephone but if you do need to telephone, please use the dedicated phone line which is open from 9.30am till11:00am and 15:00pm till 16:00pm Monday to Friday. The telephone number is 01278 655464. Repeat requests are not taken on the reception telephone number.

We are a dispensing practice which means that if you live a mile or more from the nearest pharmacy (as the crow flies) you can get your prescribed medicine at the health centre.  Unfortunately, we are not permitted to sell over the counter medicines or dispense to our patients who live within a mile of a pharmacy.

We run a computerised prescription and dispensing system.  If the doctor prescribes for you during a consultation the prescription will be printed out in our dispensary.  Our trained dispensers will then make up your prescription ready for you to collect before you leave the Health Centre.

You will be asked to sign the back of the prescription and either pay for the items or state the reason for exemption from charges. Except for age exemption, we are required to see evidence of exemption every time.  If you do not have the required evidence with you, we have to mark the form to say that we have not seen the evidence for exemption.

If you have questions about your medicine, one of our dispensers may be able to help you. If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription fill in our medication query form. or pop into the surgery and ask to speak to one of the dispensers. 

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.

• Go to Medicines A to Z (nhs.uk)

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).

NHS Charges: 

• PPC telephone advice line 0300 330 1341
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

Wasted or unused medicines is a serious and growing problem within the NHS. It is estimated that as much as £300 million is wasted every year on unused or partially used medication. 

Wasted medicines is everyone's responsibility and there are small changes you can make to help reduce the amount of medicine that is wasted. 

• Only order the medicines that you need - check what medicines you have at home before re-ordering. Please only tick the boxes on your repeat prescription for the medicines that you require. 
• Remember that unused medication cannot be recycled - even if you have not opened the box. Once medicines have left the dispensary, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else. 
• Please check your medicines before you leave the dispensary. Open your prescription bag while you are still on the premises. You can then immediately return any unwanted medication to a dispenser. 
• Unused medicines are a safety risk. You can return unused or out of date medicines to your local pharmacy or our dispensary (if we dispensed them to you) for safe disposal. 

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:

• coughs
• colds
• sore throats
• tummy trouble
• aches and pains

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

• Find a pharmacy (nhs.uk)

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Please note, our dispensers are NOT qualified pharmacists and therefore cannot offer advice as above.