Warning advice: NOTICE
Due to the increasing number of patients requesting their prescription on an urgent basis, the practice has needed to instate an Urgent Prescription Policy.
We are getting an increasing amount of requests for immediate prescriptions and we want to re-confirm our policy so that all our patients are aware of our processes.
Requests for prescriptions outside normal prescription protocol impacts significantly on both doctors and administration staff time, as well as increasing the risk of a medication prescribing error.
Unless a medication is clinically urgent, as per the list below (in which is no means exhaustive) requests will be processed routinely (over 3 working days). This includes new medications started by hospitals or specialists.
As a surgery, we require a minimum of 3 working days to process a patients request for medication routinely. If a request has been submitted after 12.00, this will then roll over to the next working day.
We are not able to take medication requests over the telephone. Please submit requests by using the NHS APP, website or with our receptionists at the front desk. This process avoids errors.
Please respect our staff
Our reception and administrative staff are to always follow this policy and they are not authorised to make any exceptions. Staff are not allowed to interrupt the duty GP during surgery. This policy is put in place to protect our patients and our staff, and we will not tolerate any abuse to our staff as they are following policy.
Many medications can safely be missed for a few days.
Urgent prescription requests are requests for emergency medication which are needed within 24 hours to prevent the patient from becoming seriously ill
Urgent prescription requests are not requests for medication which have been ordered late, as it is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that repeat prescription requests are ordered in time. This will ensure safe prescribing and optimise access to the clinical team.
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 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 or (https://111.nhs.uk/emergency-prescription where you can request details of a local pharmacy that provides the service.
If a prescription for a controlled drug has been lost or stolen this should be reported to the Police, a crime reference number should be obtained which may be requested before a replacement issued.
If you are on regular repeat medication, you will be asked to attend for check-ups. This is to ensure that the medication is still working effective and safely.
Diazepam, Opiods and Zopiclone medication all require regular review and we may not be able to continue prescribing if review is not attended.
The practice and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB policy is to prescribe 28 day’s supply however a second prescription can be obtained for holidays.
Clinically urgent medications include, asthma inhalers, warfarin + DOAC, immunosuppressant’s, steroid tablets, strong (opioid) painkillers, adrenaline auto-injectors, anti-parkinson’s drugs, thyroid medication, antiepileptic’s (Anti-convulsants), antipsychotics, antidepressants & insulin.
Methods of ordering your prescriptions:
The NHS App / NHS Log In
Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is the most simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. The NHS App is available now on iOS and Android.
You can view your current repeat medication and order the items you require. This is for patients who have a NHS login.
NEW! – NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC)
If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, an HRT PPC could save you money.
Our Dispensary
All patients living more than 1.5 miles from a dispensing chemist will be eligible to collect their medication from the surgery dispensary. If you would like to pick up your medication from the surgery and live more then 1.5 miles from a chemist, please speak to a member of the dispensary or reception teams.
During the year you may be asked to have a face-to-face meeting with one of our dispensers for them to undertake a quick review of your medication, this is a requirement of their job so we would welcome your co-operation. The meeting should not take more than a few minutes and would be arranged at a mutually convenient day/time.
Our Dispensary Opening Times
Monday to Friday
08:00 – 13:00
14:00 – 18:00
Prescription Fees & Charges
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
More information is available at NHS Choices
NHS Charges
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.
Prescription (per item): £9.65
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
3-month PPC: £31.25
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
General Public – Buy or Renew a PPC On-line
There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.
Click here to find out about the rise of Prescription Charges – Prescription charge rises to £9.65 – PSNC Website
Advanced Ordering Facility
This is an option for all patients, at the time of collecting your medication you now have the option to book your next supply. This means that you will not need to contact the surgery again until your collection date, as the dispenser will be responsible for generating your repeat medication. This is particularly useful for patients that have a regular 28 day supply.
Please ask for more information when you next see the dispenser.
Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS)
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service. It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.
What does this mean for you?
If you collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the pharmacy you choose, saving you time.
You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.
You may not have to wait as long at the pharmacy as there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.
Is this service right for you?
Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:
– Don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription.
– Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time or use a prescription collection service now.
It may not be if you:
– Don’t get prescriptions very often.
– Pick up your medicines from different places.
How can you use EPS?
You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to. This is called nomination. You can choose:
– A pharmacy, a dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one).
– Your dispensing GP practice (if you are eligible).
Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your GP practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.
Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?
Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.
Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?
Yes. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now. Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser. Dispensers will also see all the items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.
For more information please visit the NHS Choices website.