Repeat Prescriptions

Order Your Repeat Prescription Online

Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS)

We have now upgraded to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 1st September 2020. Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.

You will be asked to nominate a pharmacy where you wish your prescription to go to, if you do not wish to have a regular pharmacy it will still be sent electronic, and you will receive from the surgery a token which gives a unique barcode, this is handed to the pharmacist who will be able to scan this to manage your prescription and dispense your medication. 

If you have not already chosen your regular pharmacy or dispenser (called a “nomination”), 

Read more about EPS on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/pharmacies/electronic-prescription-service/

There will be no change in the way you request your prescription. 

Prescription Ordering

There has been a huge increase in the number of patients requesting medication over the phone, and also in the number of urgent prescription requests we are handling. We will NOT accept your request over the telephone. 

Please request your repeat prescription either Online (to sign up for online access* please bring a form of ID to reception and we will print you instructions, a username and password or simply download the NHS app) or in person (by completing the request slip that came with your previous prescription, writing your own request, or completing a prescription request slip at the practice). This is for your safety – the practice does not want to make a mistake in identifying which medicine you require. 

Our main priority is for safe prescribing. We have a very rigorous system to deal with prescription requests which involves:

  • Making sure the request is “on time” (not too soon since your last prescription)
  • Checking for relevant test results, such as blood pressure, blood tests etc.
  • Ensuring the dose and strength of your medication has not been changed
  • Asking a GP to check and adjust a medication review date
  • Getting GPs to sign all the prescriptions

*Parents can also have proxy access for their children up to the age of 16 after this age access will be denied and the patient will need to request their own access.

Non-urgent advice: Notice

Requests for repeats prescriptions will be dealt with within 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays. Any problems please telephone the surgery. You can then collect your medicines from a pharmacy or have them delivered to your home (where available, please speak to your nominated pharmacy for further information). 

Urgent Requests

Please try to plan ahead if you can. We recognise that some urgent requests are genuine, but many could be avoided with a bit of forward planning.

If you continue to make urgent requests for your medication, your GP may write to you explaining why it is so important to make requests in a timely manner. The GP may insist that you wait for the usual 48 hours for the prescription. This is not a sanction we will take lightly, and we will always take into account what the medication is for in making this decision, as your safety is our priority.

Please note that the prescription clerks are following the doctor’s instructions.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a clinical pharmacist or doctor at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.