Online
It is easier and quicker to request prescriptions via our online service. You must be permanently registered with the Practice before we can accept your request. Patients who have a temporary registration at the Practice are not permitted to use the online repeat medication form.
Please allow two working days before collecting your repeat prescription. For example requests made after 4:30pm, weekends or a public holiday, are processed by the staff on the next working day, i.e. ordered Saturday, next working day Monday, your prescription will be ready by Wednesday.
If you are looking to request an item which you have not had for a while or not had before this would require a GP appointment to discuss. We are unable to enter into correspondence over the internet regarding repeat prescriptions. This is to protect your confidentiality.
Your repeat medication
Run out or just about to run out medication requests
Unfortunately a small minority of patients are repeatedly running out (or just about to run out) of their medication. ‘Urgent’ requests of this nature cause a great deal of disruption to the smooth running of the practice. Please be aware that such requests will be questioned very carefully by the reception staff and may well be refused by the GP. A record is kept of such requests.
If you forget to request a repeat prescription
If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your pharmacy. Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine without having to get a prescription from your GP. If you receive stoma products from your pharmacy or other suppler and/or receive suppose such as continence products and welfare food from community services, you should ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining theses over public holidays, or when we are closed.
How to order your medication
COVID-19
DUe to COVID-19, we would prefer, wherever possible, that patients use our online service to request repeat prescriptions or phone our reception team if that isn’t possible.
Similarly, we would prefer that patients do not collect their prescriptions from the practice but instead nominate a pharmacy for the practice to send them to. Please contact our reception team to discuss your preferred pharmacy.
Please do not phone to confirm if your prescription is ready. All repeat medication requests made are available for collection after two full working days. Non-repeat medication (special) requests are not automatically issued they are requested from the GP. Please remember it is your responsibility to ensure you order your repeat medication on time. Always allow extra time for weekends and public holidays
In person
Requests can be made by dropping off the repeat prescription slip or request by letter at reception. Letters for repeat requests should enclose a stamped addressed envelope for return if you would like it to be returned to you by post. You can order items which are listed on the right hand side of your repeat prescription computer slip. If you wish a Special Request item, please state clearly what this is for i.e. hay fever etc, your GP will then decide if a prescription is appropriate.
By post
You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the Practice. You can include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the surgery. (Please allow extra time for any possible delays with the postal service).
Telephone
Requests by phone can be made through out the day. The requests are put in up until 4:30pm that day. Any request made after this time will be requested the following day. This means that a request made before 4:30pm on a Monday will be ready by Wednesday. A request made after 4:30pm on a Monday will be requested on the Tuesday so will not be ready until the Thursday. Reception/Admin Staff who receive your request have been trained to issue prescriptions but they do not have in depth medical knowledge. Please ensure that you provide as much detail as possible specifically about special requests that are not on your repeats. When requesting by phone please ensure you know the drug names and quantities you require.
Pharmacy ordering/collection service
Pharmacies offer a prescription collection service from our Practice. They can also order your medication on your behalf. This saves you time and unnecessary visits to the Practice. Please contact the pharmacy of your choice for more information if you wish to use this service.
Collecting your prescription
Your prescription will be ready to collect from reception two working days after your request. If you have signed up with a pharmacy all of your prescriptions will be collected by them unless you request by phone and inform you would like to collect from the surgery. If you would like to sign up to a pharmacy you will have to attend the pharmacy and fill out a consent form. This will give the pharmacy permission to collect the prescription on your behalf. This will then be sent to the surgery to inform us that all of your prescriptions will now be collected by them. Please allow up to four working days for prescriptions being collected by pharmacies to be ready to collect from the pharmacy.
Medication reviews
The GPs at the Practice regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets, in accordance with current Health Board policies. Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may be asked by your GP to call you to book a medication review and this may involve blood tests. It is very important that you attend these appointments, as it keeps you safe whilst taking medication.
Non-Repeat items (acute requests)
Non-repeat prescriptions known as “acute” prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the GP but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period and may require a review visit with your GP prior to being added onto your repeat prescription records.
Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the GP. Examples include many anti-depressants, drugs of potential abuse or where the prescribing is subject to legal or clinical restrictions or special criteria. If this is the case with your medicine, you may not always be issued with a repeat prescription until you have consulted with your GP again.
Hospital requests
When you are discharged from hospital you normally and should receive at least five days supply of medication. This will include the medication which you require after your treatment. The hospital may provide you with a yellow discharge letter for medication they would like you to request from your GP. Please bring this to the surgery or post via S.A.E. before your supply of medication has run out. Please ensure your name is on the yellow discharge letter to ensure we can process the request for you.
Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by the GP first, and if necessary the GP will issue you with a prescription. The Practice will endeavour to issue you with your prescription on that day, but it cannot be issued until the GP checks your medical details, therefore please drop this off as soon as possible.
Additional requests of repeat medication
A Scottish Home and Health Department circular from 1971 clarifies the position on prescribing for patients going abroad for extended periods. It states:-
“If a patient intends to go away for a longer period (than two to three week’s holiday) he/she may not be regarded as a resident of this country and would not be entitled to the benefits of the National Health Service…. It may not be in the patient’s best interest for him/her to continue to self-medication over such longer periods…. If a patient is going abroad for a long period, he/she should be prescribed sufficient drugs to meet his/her requirements only until such time as he can place himself/herself in the care of a doctor at his/her destination.”
Where ongoing medical attention is not necessary, the patient may be given a private prescription.
