The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
Please note that whilst you may obtain some medication on a regular basis this may not mean that it is recorded as a repeat on our system as some medication must be authorised by a GP at each issue. If this is the case our team will pass your request to the GP to action.
The policy for 28 day prescribing has been in operation for many years and has generally been promoted by successive health authorities across the UK with the main emphasis being on the reduction of waste from unused medicines. Studies as far back as 1996 identified a correlation between the value of returns and prescription length and our local evidence from Cumbrian audits continues to confirm that the longer duration of the prescribing the higher the level of waste becomes.
Other reasons for shorter duration prescribing include the need for safety monitoring for some drugs, the ability for some patients to manage their medication and patients whose condition requires frequent changes to dosage.
The Practice is aware of some issues associated with shorter duration prescribing such as increased costs for the Dispensary and inconvenience for patients however the practice policy is in line with the current guidance from the Department of Health that prescribing intervals should be in line with the medically appropriate needs of the patient, taking into account the need to safeguard NHS resources, patient convenience, and the dangers of excess drugs in the home.
We continue to support the view that 28 day prescribing is in line with accepted best practice but that where appropriate the individual patient circumstances will be taken into account. All decisions to implement repeat prescribing are taken by a GP in consultation with the patient and will continue to be reviewed at agreed intervals as part of a standard medication review process.
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.
Help with NHS costs
In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:
Please visit the NHS Prescription website for more information
If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
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.