In line with NHS England and ICB advice on good practice and reducing waste across the NHS, we provide our patients with 28 days rather than 56 days repeat medication.
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
- using the GP online system: SystmOnline
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- send by post
- drop off in person by leaving a note / the tear-off slip from your last prescription, and ticking the required medication
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription 3 working days after you have ordered it. As such, we allow patients to request repeat prescription items up to 7 days earlier to avoid running out of medicines.
Acute prescription requests take longer to process, as they require a clinician (GP, clinical pharmacist, independent prescribing nurse etc) to make a decision if a further supply is appropriate. Therefore, please bear this in mind when requesting acute prescriptions.
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 any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions
Electronic repeat dispensing (eRD)
If you or someone you care for uses the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from electronic repeat dispensing. This means you won’t have to re-order or collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP practice every time you need more medicine.
You simply collect your regular medication from your usual pharmacy each month without actually having to order it.
When your pharmacy supplies your last eRD, they will inform you, as it is likely that your annual review will be due. You will then have to contact your GP practice to have your annual review before another set of eRD prescriptions can be authorised.
If you would like to be set up with eRD, please contact the surgery so that we may review if you would benefit from this service.
Medication supplies for holidays
If you are a permanent UK resident, the NHS accepts responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to a maximum of three months. Any person whose absence from the UK is longer than three months will have to arrange to have their medication prescribed by a practitioner in the country they are visiting.
Hospital admissions
We would like to inform patients who are going into hospital that they need to take with them an up to date list of all their medication.
Hospital prescriptions
If you have been seen by a hospital specialist and they have recommended a course of treatment, this will not be issued until we have received a letter from the hospital specialist. If you are able to provide us with a copy of the letter, we may be able to issue the medicine sooner than waiting for the clinic letter.
If the specialist decides that you need to start taking a medication immediately, they will provide you with a prescription at your appointment. Please take to the hospitals’ pharmacy to dispense as a community pharmacy cannot dispense a hospital prescription.
Questions about your prescription
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.
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.
Medication reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.
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.
About pharmacists
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.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff.