Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account
- using the GP online system: SystmOnline
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need by ticking the box.
Non-urgent advice: Repeat Prescription
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 working days after you have ordered it.
You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this 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 accepts repeat prescriptions
SystmOnline
Questions about your prescription
If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on 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 your common questions.
Medication reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges
What to do with old medicines
Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
About pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
Medication Quantity
Patients will no longer receive more than 3 months medication. This is to help the community pharmacies maintain adequate stock levels for all patients. If you are going to be staying out of the area, for more than 3 months, then you will have to register with a local doctor. In the UK you can register as a temporary resident.
Medications will be issued in the multiples of 28 days. This helps us look at your medication usage and compliance and plan your reviews.
Electronic Prescription Service
Wwe have identified some patients that could benefit from being placed onto electronic repeat dispensing. Repeat dispensing is a process that allows the patient to obtain repeated supplies of their medicines without the need for the prescriber to sign the prescription each time. If your medication is stable and once your medication has been reviewed, we will issue a batch of repeat prescriptions (up to a 1 year period/ when the review is due next) that will go to your pharmacy. You will then be able to pick these up every 28 or 56 days depending on your prescription interval.
Repeat dispensing is beneficial for patients, the surgery and your pharmacy. Below are the reasons why:
Benefits to the patient:
- All your medicines can be synchronized to be collected / delivered on the same date.
- Offers you convenience and flexibility. For instance you can request a prescription earlier from the pharmacy if you are going away on holiday, as long as this does not exceed 3 months’ supply.
- Saves you time as you don’t have to keep going between the surgery and pharmacy.
Benefits to the surgery:
- Reduced workload for both receptionists and prescribers, as we will only have to deal with a repeat prescription request once.
- Better use of prescribing resource. We want to free up prescriber time so that we can spend more time seeing our patients.
- To reduce the pressure on the pharmacies.
Benefits to the pharmacy:
- Allows prescription dispensing prior to patient arrival at pharmacy (in normal circumstances.
- Better stock control.
- The pharmacy team will not have to chase up prescription requests with surgery