Ordering a repeat prescription

Repeat Prescriptions

Did you know your prescription can now be sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice? If you let the prescribing team know which pharmacy you prefer to use, they can send your prescription electronically, meaning you can go to the chemist and not have to come to the surgery to collect your prescription first. There are some medications that cannot be processed using this method. 

Some local pharmacies also offer a repeat prescription collection service - please ask your pharmacist.

Focus on Your Medicines

Lots of us take prescribed medicines and some people worry about them. If you have concerns about your medicines you can ask to meet with an expert to talk about them. This is called the medication review. Your surgery will arrange for you to see a pharmacist, a doctor or a nurse. If you regularly see a hospital specialist for long-term conditions, such as epilepsy or Parkinson's Disease, the meeting may take place at hospital.

Some people should have review meetings at least every year.

• Are you over 75?
• Are you regularly taking prescription medicines?
• Are you taking medicine for a long-term illness (like asthma, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure or epilepsy)?
• Are you taking hospital-prescribed medicines, or have you come out of hospital lately?
• Have there been major changes to your medicines recently?

If you fall into one of the groups above, you should be discussing your medicines regularly. Even if you're not in any of these groups, you can ask for a meeting if you have any concerns.

Ask us to arrange a medication review.

The person you meet to focus on your medicines will normally be a pharmacist, doctor or nurse. They will listen to your worries and questions and you can say whatever you want in those meetings.

How should you prepare for the medicines review meeting?

Make a list of your current medicines, what you take it for and how often. Think about questions that you may have about your medicines. Such questions might be:

• What does this medicine do?
• How and when should I take it?
• How do I know it is helping?
• How can I be sure it's safe for me to take it?
• What side effects are most likely from this medicine?
• What should I do if I get these side effects?
• Could another medicine do a better job with less risk?
• What happens if I stop taking it or took a lower dose?
• How does this mix with other things I take, or with food and drink?
• How long will I need to use this medicine?
• Will the medicine build up in my body?
• Do I really need to take all these medicines?
• Is there anything that can help to remind me to take my medicines?
• Can I have containers which are easier to open?

After your medicines review meeting, some of your medicines that you are prescribed may change. This will not happen against your will. You will need to agree on any changes. If you meet with somebody other than your doctor and you agree to changes in your medication, they will pass these onto your doctor. A summary of the meeting will be recorded in your notes and a date for the next meeting will normally be agreed at the end of the medication review.

Prescribing of over the counter medicines has changed

We can no longer prescribe medicines that are available to purchase over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets.   Please click here to view the patient information leaflet.

Mild to Moderate Hay Fever is one of the conditions listed by NHS England for which over the counter items should not be routinely prescribed in General Practice.

Unused prescription medicines cost the NHS in the UK an estimated £300million every year. This could pay for ...

11,778 MORE community nurses or

80,906 MORE hip replacements or

19,799 MORE drug treatment courses for breast cancer or

300,000 MORE drug treatment courses for Alzheimer's or

312,175 MORE cataract operations

Find our more at   Medicine Waste UK