Repeat Prescriptions

If you have a long-term medical condition your GP may add your medication to your repeat prescriptions. This means you will be able to order these again without the need to see the GP each time.

If you have recently joined the practice and have previously had repeat prescriptions, you will need to make an appointment with a GP before you run out of your medication.

Order Online

Patients who are registered for our online services can order their medication using their person account. This lists all the repeat medication on your medical record and allows you to order the items that you require.

Write your request

Please write out clearly the medications that you require, or clearly mark the items you require on your previous repeat slip. You can either drop this into the surgery when you pass or post it directly to us. If you wish, your requests can be posted back to you if you enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

We do not accept telephone requests for prescriptions.

Nominating a Pharmacy

Many prescriptions can now be sent electronically to any NHS pharmacy via the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). When ordering your medication, if you would like to access this service please let our reception service know and they will nominate your selected pharmacy. For more information regarding EPS, please click here.

Medication reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to come in a see a doctor or nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications. We do try to complete these reviews in the month of your birthday each year. Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service. It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.

What does this mean for you?

If you collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.

You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.

You may not have to wait as long at the pharmacy as there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.

Is this service right for you?

Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:

Don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription.

Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time or use a prescription collection service now.

It may not be if you:

Don’t get prescriptions very often.

Pick up your medicines from different places.

How can you use EPS?

You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to. This is called nomination. You can choose:

• A pharmacy

• A dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one)

• Your dispensing GP practice (if you are eligible)

Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your GP practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.

Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?

Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.

Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?

Yes. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now. Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser. Dispensers will also see all the items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.

For more information visit www.hscic.gov.uk/epspatients, your pharmacy or GP practice.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website

Over The Counter Medicines

Prescribing of over the counter medicines is changing

Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of short-term, minor health concerns.

Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community.

The team of qualified healthcare professionals at your local pharmacy can offer clinical advice to safely and effectively manage minor health concerns. This includes:

• Acute sore throat
• Conjuctivities
• Coughs, colds and nasal congestion 
• Cradle cap
• Dandruff
• Diarrhoea (adults)
• Dry eyes / sore tired eyes
• Earwax
• Excessive sweating
• Haemorrhoids
• Head lice
• Indigestion & heartburn
• Infant colic
• Infrequent cold sores of the lip
• Infrequent constipation
• Infrequent migraine
• Insect bites and stings
• Mild acne
• Minor burns and scalds
• Mild cystitis
• Mild dry skin
• Mild irritant dermatitis
• Mild to moderate hay fever
• Minor pain, discomfort and fever (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain)
• Mouth ulcers
• Nappy rash
• Oral thrush
• Prevention of tooth decay
• Ringworm / athletes foot
• Sunburn
• Sun protection
• Teething / mild toothache
• Threadworms
• Travel sickness
• Warts & verrucae

GPs, nurses or pharmacists will also generally no longer prescribe probiotics and some vitamins and minerals. You can get these from eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet, or buy them at your pharmacy or supermarket.

Why does the NHS need to reduce prescriptions for over the counter medicines?

The NHS has been spending around £136 million a year on prescriptions for medicines that can be bought from a pharmacy or supermarket, such as paracetamol. By reducing the amount the NHS spends on over the counter medicines, we can give priority to treatments for people with more serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and mental health problems.

You may still be prescribed a medicine for a condition on the list if:

• You need treatment for a long-term condition, e.g. regular pain relief for chronic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
• You need treatment for more complex forms of minor illnesses, e.g. migraines that are very bad and where over the counter medicines do not work.
• You need an over the counter medicine to treat a side effect of a prescription medicine or symptom of another illness, e.g. constipation when taking certain painkillers.
• The medicine has a licence which doesn’t allow the product to be sold over the counter to certain groups of patients. This could include babies, children or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• The person prescribing thinks that a patient cannot treat themselves, for example because of mental health problems or severe social vulnerability.

What can you do?

Keeping a few useful medicines at home means you can treat common conditions immediately without needing to see a healthcare professional. These could include:

• Painkillers to help with pain, discomfort and fever
• Indigestion medicines, oral re-hydration salts and treatments for constipation and diarrhoea
• Treatments for seasonal conditions like colds and hay fever
• Sunblock and after sun
• Basic first aid items (for example plasters or antiseptic cream)

If you have children, make sure you also have products suitable for them. Speak to your local pharmacy team about what medicines to keep at home, where to store them safely and how to use them.