During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have relaxed our rules around the requesting of repeat medications.  However, from Monday 10th April 2023, we are returning to our policy of NOT accepting prescription requests by telephone, for safety reasons.  

The only exception to this is where a patient is housebound, has dementia or has a learning disability, & they do not have a carer who can request their prescriptions for them.  Please note that we permit community pharmacies to request prescriptions for such patients in writing.

We encourage as many patients as possible to request their repeat prescriptions via the NHS App or Patient Online.  For everybody else, the request must be made in writing using the tick slip that is provided, & not via a community pharmacy please.

We require two complete working days' notice to process repeat prescription requests - for example, a repeat prescription requested on a Friday afternoon will usually be ready by a Wednesday morning.  However, this is only if any essential medication monitoring is up to date.

If a patient requires a repeat prescription more urgently than this, then the patient or their carer should contact NHS 111, either online or by telephone.  However, the following essential medications may be requested urgently via our reception:

  • Insulins
  • Long-term steroid tablets: e.g. prednisolone, hydrocortisone, budesonide
  • Reliever inhalers: e.g. salbutamol, terbutaline
  • Adrenaline pens
  • Epilepsy medications: e.g. lamotrigine, carbamazepine, topiramate, sodium valproate, levetiracetam
  • Anticoagulants ("blood thinners"): e.g. warfarin, edoxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, dalteparin, enoxaparin
  • Injectable medications being administered at the end of life
  • Lithium

All of the above information relates to repeat prescriptions.  However, GP surgeries also issue acute medications - these are a ‘one-off’ prescription, for example, a short course of treatment or until a patient has been stabilised on a new medication.

To request a prescription for an acute medication that you have had before, or if you have misplaced your tick slip for requesting a repeat prescription, please complete this form & email it to gp.n84613@nhs.net or pass it into our reception.

The form must be completed in full, otherwise we regret that it cannot be processed safely.  Please contact us after two complete working days to see if a doctor has been able to issue the prescription, based on the information provided.

Thank you very much in anticipation of your support with these changes, which are required to ensure that our medication prescribing is as safe as possible.