Repeat medication

When a medicine has been prescribed for regular use, it is known as repeat medication. Repeat medication needs to be monitored to ensure that it is still doing its job and that it is the best option for you. When you request your repeat, the prescription team will check if you have had the necessary blood tests, reviews or other appointments.

People on long term medication which requires monitoring will be informed about the need to have regular appointments and blood tests by the Prescriber when first prescribed. It is your responsibility to ensure you check when these appointments are due and make them in good time. If the team do not have current test results or a recent review available, they may not be able to issue your medication.

All patients need to be responsible for their own medication. If it is not working, is giving you side effects or causing concerns, please contact us. If you already have spare stock of certain medications sitting in the cupboard, please do not order until it is needed. If you are no longer taking the medicines, please let us know and do not continue to order. Once the team have checked that the medication request is in order, the request will go through to the Prescriber for signing and then onto either the dispensary or your chosen pharmacy. If the medicine you wish to order is not on included on your repeat medication list, it may be that it was only issued as a one-off and is known as an ‘acute’ medication. If you require further supplies of acute medication you will need to contact the surgery and a further appointment may be needed.

This process, from ordering to being ready to collect, can take 7-10 days in total due to the volume of requests that are received on a daily basis. Please ensure you order in advance of running out of your medicines.

Prescription dispensing

If you live within 1 mile of a community pharmacy we will send your prescription electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. If you live over a mile from a pharmacy we can dispense your medication from the surgery. If you are not already registered for this service, please contact us.

When collecting your medicine from the pharmacy or dispensary, check you have all the medicine you were expecting before leaving. Unfortunately, once medication has left the premises, the medication cannot be reused as appropriate storage cannot be guaranteed. If anything you were expecting is missing, please speak with the Pharmacist or Dispenser. You will usually receive your repeat medication list when you collect your medicines. If your medicines list is correct, you can use this list to support your future ordering. You can tick which medicines you have ordered and then keep this to check off your medicines when you collect them. Please do not order everything every month if you do not need it, for example creams, inhalers etc; only order what you need. Others can request repeat medication for you if you are unable to manage your prescriptions yourself. If the medicine is out of stock or subject to restriction nationally, your prescriber will be contacted for advice.

If you run out of your repeat medication

If you run out of your repeat medication for any reason, you can request an emergency supply by contacting 111. Some medicines are not permitted as emergency supplies e.g. controlled drugs, medicines that are not on repeat, or repeat medicines that are awaiting a GP authorisation. Be aware that there are frequent national and global supply problems with some medications. The Pharmacy will usually contact us to ask for alternatives where these exist, and this may lead to a delay in supply.

If you want extra supplies of your medication

The surgery will issue the prescriptions listed on your repeat record at the time the repeat medication is due. If you need more than this, you should send us a written request explaining why more is needed. Note extra supplies may not be given if your monitoring is due or overdue.

Taking medication abroad

There are HM customs requirements for taking medication abroad, and you should check with HM customs and the country of your destination to ensure that you comply with any required regulations. Please be aware that once someone leaves the UK, entitlement to NHS care, including prescription medication, is ended, as people are expected to register for care with a healthcare provider when abroad. If you are travelling abroad and need repeat medication, please send us a written request for consideration. Please note that any medication issued is at the discretion of the Prescriber and may be refused.

Requesting prescriptions recommended by a non NHS provider

If you are requesting a prescription that has been recommended as a result of an appointment with a private hospital or prescriber, please be aware that continuation of the medication on the NHS cannot be guaranteed. You will need to make an appointment with your GP before this can be considered.