Ordering repeat prescriptions
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: SystemOnline
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.30pm
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 working days after you have ordered it.
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 your GP practice
- at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions
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.
If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription:
- phone our pharmacist after 10am on 01509 239166
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 (nhs.uk).
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 consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
Other ways to order repeat medication
If you would like to request your repeats in writing you can send us a letter with your name, address, date of birth and the requested medication.
You may also send us a self-addressed envelope with your request but please allow five working days for this to be issued and posted back to you.
If you require an early issue of your prescription e.g. for a holiday please advise us on your request in order that we can try to facilitate this.
Ordering using a right hand side of prescription
If you are using the right hand side of your prescription please tick the medication you require and drop it in to the post box in reception. If you are unable to find your last prescription form you can ask a receptionist to print you a copy of your repeats list.
Collecting a prescription for someone else
If you are collecting a prescription on behalf of someone else you will need to know their:
- name
- date of birth
- address
We will also need to ask for your name and relationship to the patient for our records.
Electronic Prescription Service
Many of our patients already have their prescriptions sent electronically to a pharmacy of their choice and our practice has been sending repeat prescriptions electronically for some time. This service is known as the Electronic Prescriptions Service (EPS) and the chosen pharmacy is known as a nomination. From the 1st of July 2020 the practice will be using a new version of EPS that means that we will no longer be issuing green prescriptions. Instead all of our prescriptions will be sent electronically.
The NHS is phasing out green prescriptions known as FP10s and this change has been planned for some time. The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that access to the practice has been restricted and some patients have found it difficult to collect their green prescriptions from us. For those patients that are still collecting prescriptions we have been asking them to nominate a pharmacy that they would like their prescription to be sent to electronically. We want to keep our patients safe and stop unnecessary visits to the practice to collect green prescription and then to the pharmacy to drop off prescriptions.
If you nominate a pharmacy for your prescriptions to be sent to, it does not mean that your prescriptions always have to go to this pharmacy. For example, if you are on holiday you could let us know when you request your medication and we can send your prescription to a pharmacy at your holiday destination. We are able to change where the prescriptions go each time provided you let us know in advance. You can change your nominated pharmacy whenever you want to do so.
From the 1st of July 2020 patients without an EPS nomination will automatically have their prescription sent electronically. You will be given a token instead of a prescription and this will need to be collected from the practice. The token contains a unique barcode that is scanned by the pharmacy to enable them to dispense your medication.
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) allows us to issue your repeat medications for up to a year through one request to us. Your repeat prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS database, so they’ll be ready at the pharmacy each time you need them.
Using eRD you can:
- save time by avoiding unnecessary trips or calls to your GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription
- pick up your repeat prescriptions directly from your pharmacy without having to visit your GP
- spend less time waiting for your prescription in the pharmacy or GP practice
For more information about eRD and how it works or of your medications may be suitable to be repeat dispensed please ask at the surgery.