Prescriptions

How to Order a Repeat Prescription

a blister pack of medication

Repeat Prescriptions

Patients on regular medication do not need to see a doctor for a repeat prescription of their medication. 

Some patients need medicines over a prolonged period, which can be authorised for a repeat prescription by the doctor. If so, a record is kept on the computer so that you may request further supplies.

Please allow 48 hours (2 full working days) before collecting your prescription. Remember to allow extra time for Bank Holidays and weekends.

How to Order a Repeat Prescription

The fastest and most efficient way to order your repeat medication is by requesting this online.  You can order your repeat prescriptions online through SystmOnline, or using the NHS app or Airmid App.  Click on the image below or follow this link to access SystmOnline>>

Please allow 48 hours (2 full working days) before collecting your prescription. Remember to allow extra time for Bank Holidays and weekends.

Scroll down to click on the image below or follow this link to access your SystmOnline account here>>

Other ways you may re-order your medication

If you cannot order your repeat prescriptions online, your prescription request can be made by sending your prescription sheet to the Surgery and indicating which items are required.  Alternatively, you may leave your request sheet at the pharmacy of your choice.  

Please note that we do not take prescription requests over the phone. This is to ensure patient safety and to avoid mistakes.  It will also prevent blocking the phone lines and increase telephone access when patients are trying to make appointments, request advice or emergency help.

You may also wish to consider requesting repeat prescriptions using the NHS App. Scroll down to click on the image below or follow this link to find out more>>

medication

Boots Pharmacy Prescription Stock Checker

Check whether your prescribed medication is in-stock at your local Boots Pharmacy.

Follow this link to us the Online Prescriptions stock checker>>

Image depicting the Only Order What you Need Campaign

Making a Repeat Prescription Request?

Please Only Order What You Need!

Did you know that approximately 1.6 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset every year?  We are asking patients in our network for help to reduce this.

We want people to have the right medicine and care while reducing the amount of medicine waste. If you have enough medicine at home, there’s no need to order more every time. You will still be able to request your medicine again in the future.  

The good news is that you can help make a tremendous difference by only ordering what you need. 

Thank you to the many people who are already doing this.

For more information, visit the NHS Dorset website here>> – www.nhsdorset.nhs.uk/yourmeds

If you forget to request a repeat prescription

If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and thus 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 have run out of important medication, telephone your usual Pharmacy to check that they offer this service; if they don’t, they may either direct you to another Pharmacy who does provide it, or ask you to phone 111 where you can request details of a local Pharmacy that provides the service.

You must then take with you to the relevant Pharmacy, proof of both your identification and of your medication (for example, your repeat prescription list or the empty box which should have your details printed on it). Please note that controlled drugs and antibiotics are not provided through this service, you will need to ring 111 for these.

If you receive stoma products from your Pharmacy or other supplier and/or receive items such as continence products, please ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining these over Bank Holidays, or when the Surgery is closed.

a post it note with the words don't forget written on it

Other useful information about medication for our patients 

a pile of £20 notes

Prescription Fees

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:

  • those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
  • those who are age exempt
  • those with certain medical conditions

The current NHS prescription charges can be found on the NHS website here>> If you need help with NHS costs or need to find out if you can get free prescriptions please click the button below for further information, please follow this link for more information>>

a doctor holding a stethoscope

Medication Reviews

Our clinicians regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets and is in accordance with current Health Authority policies.

Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may sometimes call you in for 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.

a person holding a pile of pills in there hand

Disposal of Unwanted or Out of Date Medicines  

 

If there are any medications you no longer use, please advise the receptionist who will arrange to have them removed from your repeat medications.

Unwanted medication can be returned to your usual pharmacy for safe destruction. 

If you have your own sharps boxes at home then they need to be dated & signed when opened and then when closed, before being returned to the Surgery.

a person holding antibiotics in their hand

Antibiotic Use

Our practice will only prescribe antibiotics if we feel that they will benefit your condition – many conditions will improve without the need for medication. Your GP might not prescribe antibiotics.

There are a number of things that you can do to help manage antibiotic resistance.

Learn more about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance by following this link>>

a variety of medication packs

Wasted Medications

We strongly encourage our patients to only place orders for repeat prescriptions for what they need in the coming month.  It is estimated that 1.6 million repeat prescription items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset each year. 

If there are any medications you no longer use, please advise the receptionist who will arrange to have them removed from your repeat medications.

The video shown below shows how we can reduce the waste on repeat prescriptions, wasted medication impacts on our NHS services.

We can reduce the waste on repeat prescriptions, wasted medication impacts on our NHS services.

Watch the NHS Waste Campaign video here>>

a stethoscope and medications

Electronic Prescribing Service

If you get regular prescriptions, the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) may help you.

EPS makes it possible for your prescriptions to be sent electronically to the Pharmacy or Dispenser of your choice.

Choosing a Pharmacy or Dispensing Appliance Contractor to process your EPS prescription is called nomination.

This means you’ll no longer have to collect a paper repeat prescription from your GP Practice – instead, you can go straight to the nominated Pharmacy or Dispensing Appliance Contractor to pick up your medicines or medical appliances.

Learn more about electronic prescribing services on the NHS website here>>

Hospital Requests

When you are discharged from Hospital you should normally receive seven days supply of medication.

On receipt of your discharge medication, which will be issued to you by the Hospital, please contact the Surgery to provide them with this information before your supply of medication has run out.

Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by a prescribing clinician first, and if necessary a prescribing clinician will provide you with a prescription on request. 

Non repeat items (acute requests)

Non-repeat prescriptions, known as ‘acute’ prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the doctor 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 doctor prior to the medication being added onto your repeat prescription records.

Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the doctor. 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 doctor again.