Medicines
If you take medicine often, you will have a repeat prescription. New medicines or those for a short time will not be on your repeat list. You must ask for them separately.
Repeat Prescriptions
We suggest using the NHS App or website to ask for repeat prescriptions. You can use it to see if your request is ready. You can also see when we have sent it to the pharmacy to be dispensed. This doesn’t mean it will be available immediately.
How to request a repeat prescription on the NHS App (video)
Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- Use your NHS account (NHS website or NHS App). This is what we prefer.
- If you are already signed up, you can use Patient Access online.
These will show all your repeat medicine and how much to take. You can pick the ones you need.
If the medicine is not on the App or online, you can complete the Prescription Request Form.
You can also bring (or post) the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 6.30pm
We don’t take repeat prescription requests over the phone. This helps stop mistakes and keeps our phones free for appointments and other questions. But if you need your medicine urgently or in special cases, please call us.
The medication I need isn’t listed in the App
If the medication you need isn’t on your repeat list in the NHS App or online service, you can ask for it using the Prescription Request Form.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy three to five working days after you order it.
You will need to choose a pharmacy to pick it up from. This is called 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 takes repeat prescriptions
Questions about your prescription
Your local pharmacist can answer questions about your medicine. They can also answer questions about 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 common questions.
If you need to speak to someone at the practice about your medication, please fill in an online consultation admin request.
Medication reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular check-up. We will contact you when you need to come in for a review or to set up a phone appointment.
It is important to attend the call or appointment as we may not be able to reissue medication if your review is overdue.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).
What to do with old medicines
Take old medicines to the pharmacy where you got them or bring them to the surgery. Do not put them in your bin or flush them down the toilet.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists are trained health workers. They can give advice on minor illnesses like:
- Coughs
- Colds
- Sore throats
- Tummy trouble
- Aches and pains
Pharmacists can suggest treatments for problems that do not need a prescription. These are called over-the-counter medicines.
Some pharmacies have rooms to talk in private. Some can also give prescription medicine for certain problems without you seeing a GP.
Many pharmacies are open late and on weekends. You do not need an appointment, but you can call ahead to ask for one.
Pharmacy First
If it is right for you, we can send you to a pharmacy for a Pharmacy First check-up when you call us.
Shared Care Prescribing
Shared care is when a specialist doctor asks a GP to take over some of a patient’s care, like giving prescriptions. This can only happen if the GP agrees. The GP needs to think about whether it is safe to do so.
If the GP agrees, they will be responsible for the prescriptions they sign. They must explain their decisions and make sure the patient is properly monitored. This is a big responsibility, so the GP needs to be careful when deciding.
The General Medical Council (GMC) says that all doctors who prescribe medication must stay up to date about the medicines they give. They need to know how to spot serious side effects and make sure the right checks are in place.
What Shared Care Means
Shared care is voluntary for GPs. They should think about their own skills and how much work they already have before agreeing. The GP must balance the needs of one patient with the needs of everyone else they look after. Then they can decide if they can take on more work.
Specialist doctors can only hand over care if the GP agrees. This is often forgotten, but it’s important to respect the GP’s ability to work safely within their skills. The practice must be able to handle the extra work of prescribing and monitoring the patient. These are key parts of keeping patients safe.
Conditions
This most often happens with private care for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dermatology. These are popular choices for patients as NHS waiting lists can be long. They are sometimes expensive and patients who start private treatment may want the NHS to take over.
It is very important to speak to us before you start private care as we may not be able to share care and cannot take responsibility for continuing prescriptions. If asked, we will refer patients to the NHS, and we have no say on how long you may wait to be seen.