Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need. Other online service providers are also available.
You can also:
- using the GP online system: AccuRx – this must be completed by the patient online. However, this does not provide a list of your current medications. Our Reception Team are not able to complete this form on your behalf, for patient safety we do not take prescription requests over the telephone.
- use your prescription tear-off slip and put it in the requests box on the ground floor of the medical centre.
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or by email.
How do I find out when my prescription is ready?
To get a live update on your prescriptions request:
- use your NHS App
This will show when your request
- has been approved by your GP and has been sent immediately to your nominated pharmacy.
- is still being reviewed by your GP, still within 2 days of the practice receiving and processing your request on to the clinical system.
- has been rejected for patient safety.
If you do not have access to the NHS App, or alternative application, please wait a minimum of 2 days, from when the practice received your request, before contacting your pharmacy to ask when your prescription will be ready for collection.
Once your request is approved by your GP, your prescription is immediately sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy.
Please do not contact the surgery for an update, unless you have been notified your request has been rejected.
Collecting your prescription
Make sure to leave a minimum of 2 working days to ensure your request is processed in time, and only tick the medications that you need.
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
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.
If you still have questions about your medication:
- fill in our medication query form.
Medication reviews
Anyone on a repeat prescription will need a regular medication review. When you receive a notification on your NHS App or on your tear-off slip, request a ‘Medication Review’ immediately to avoid delays in your medication by filling out the online form.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).
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.
Medication requests following hospital appointments
When a specialist, hospital-only medicine or an urgent supply is necessary, the hospital doctor will issue you either an electronic or paper-based prescription for dispensing at the hospital outpatient pharmacy.
Hospital Outpatient paper-based prescriptions cannot be accepted or issued by your GP and you must present this to the hospital outpatient pharmacy only.
However, if the medicine to be started is not urgent, or there is a change to your existing medicine(s) which is not needed straight away, then a clinic letter will be sent to your GP to start once received and the information processed.
The clinic letter gives your GP recommendations about your treatment from the hospital specialist. Please check with your GP at your next appointment, or if you already take medicine(s), when you request your repeat prescription; there is no need to visit your GP immediately. Your GP will then make a decision on a treatment plan for you. This may include offering a different product to the one suggested by the hospital doctor.
Medication requests following discharge from hospital
If a medication is required on discharge from hospital, please note the following information:
It is the responsibility of the hospital to provide a minimum of 14 days medication. This includes:
- Prescribe enough drops to cover treatment following ophthalmic procedures
- Providing the complete course, if a course of medication is required e.g. Antibiotics or steroid reducing medication
About pharmacists
Pharmacists can suggest treatments that do not need a prescription for a range of conditions.
Most pharmacies can also offer prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment. This is called Pharmacy First.
Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:
- impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
- shingles (aged 18 years and over)
If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice and support decisions about self care treatment with over the counter medicines, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other health professional if needed. They will also update your GP health record, but your information will not be shared with anyone else.
Most pharmacies can provide prescription medicine for these conditions but contact them before visiting to check.
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.
Private Prescriptions
This explains how a prescription issued after a private consultation is different to an NHS prescription and how you can get your medicine.
Why am I being given a private prescription?
If you have seen a doctor or other healthcare professional privately and they need you to start a treatment, you may be issued with a private prescription. Private doctors are not allowed to issue NHS prescriptions. This is because private consultations are not part of the NHS treatment pathway.
What is the difference between a private prescription and an NHS prescription?
With a private prescription you will need to pay for the full cost of the medicine plus a dispensing fee. The pharmacy will calculate the total cost, and this is paid by you or your medical insurance company. The total cost can vary at different pharmacies, so it is worth asking more than one pharmacy how much they will charge you to dispense the prescription. Sometimes private prescriptions cost less than the NHS prescription charge.
With an NHS prescription you pay an NHS prescription charge per item (a fixed tax) unless you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions. The current cost of the prescription charge is available at: NHS prescription charges
You can get more information about whether you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions at: Check if you can get free prescriptions
How do I get my medicines if they are on a private prescription?
If you have been given a private prescription by your healthcare professional, you can have this dispensed at a pharmacy of your choice. A private prescription is normally written on letter headed paper and has all the information about the medicine and how you need to take it. The pharmacy will inform you how much they will charge you to dispense the prescription. The pharmacy has to keep the private prescription for their records once your medicine has been dispensed.
Can I ask my GP for an NHS prescription if I have seen the clinician privately?
If you enter the NHS for further treatment after your initial prescription was dispensed privately, then your GP may be able to issue a prescription on the NHS. However, there are a number of reasons that your GP may not be able to transfer your private prescription onto an NHS prescription. These include:
- The medicine being recommended on your private prescription is not allowed on an NHS prescription
If a medicine is not allowed on an NHS prescription (blacklisted) then it cannot be prescribed by anyone on the NHS. - The medicine being recommended is not included in your local NHS treatment pathway
In your local area the medicine may not be included in the normal NHS treatment pathway, therefore would not normally be recommended on an NHS prescription. - The medicine being recommended is not included in your local medicine formulary
A medicine formulary contains a list of preferred local choices. You may be offered a preferred alternative on NHS prescription instead of the medicine on your private prescription. - The medicine being recommended is only suitable for specialist or specialised prescribing
In the normal NHS treatment pathway, NHS specialists and not GPs, would prescribe the medicine. So, GPs may be unfamiliar with the medicine and how it should be prescribed and reviewed. GPs would not normally prescribe these medicines on NHS prescription. - Your GP may not agree with the choice of medicine being recommended
Your GP may not agree with the choice of medicine recommended by your private clinician. You may be offered an alternative on NHS prescription. - The medicine is included further down the NHS treatment pathway
In your local area other treatments are recommended to be tried and considered first. You may be offered one of these medicines on NHS prescription first.
If I have any question or difficulty obtaining the medicines, what shall I do?
You should speak to the clinician that issued the private prescription to discuss what to do next. They may recommend an alternative medicine, which may be prescribed by your GP on an NHS prescription.
I cannot afford to pay for the treatment privately, what can I do?
It is important to consider all potential costs when accessing a private consultant and this includes medicine costs. If your GP is unable to prescribe the medicine on an NHS prescription for one of the reasons documented, you should speak to the clinician that issued you with the private prescription to discuss what to do next. This may include them recommending an alternative less costly medicine or one which may be prescribed by your GP on an NHS prescription.
My GP has offered me a private prescription even though I am being seen on the NHS. Why is this?
There are a few rare circumstances where NHS healthcare professionals may issue private prescriptions to their NHS patients. These are:
- Malaria prophylaxis for protection when travelling abroad or medicines only needed in case there is an illness or injury when travelling abroad
Treatments that may be needed whilst travelling are not considered suitable for prescribing on the NHS. The traveller should pay the cost of these treatments. - Travel vaccines that are not allowed on the NHS, such as yellow fever or rabies vaccine
Some vaccines for travel are not allowed on the NHS and therefore travellers needing these vaccines will need to pay for them privately. - Items which are blacklisted or not available for specific conditions on the NHS
In very rare circumstances, your healthcare professional may think that an item not available for prescribing on the NHS is suitable for you and with your agreement may need to issue a private prescription for this item. Your healthcare professional may charge you a fee for writing a private prescription.