Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- Using our online form
- Using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
- Using the GP online system: Patient Access
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- Bring the paper form to the surgery during opening hours.
Housebound and vulnerable patients can order over the phone with the surgery.
When will my prescription be ready?
It is our practice policy to allow at least 3 working days for the processing of prescription requests.
We also ask that patients do not make contact with the practice enquiring about their prescription prior to this time as this creates additional workload for the practice.
| Order day | Collection day |
| Monday | Thursday |
| Tuesday | Friday |
| Wednesday | Monday |
| Thursday | Tuesday |
| Friday | Wednesday |
| Saturday (non-working day) | Wednesday |
| Sunday (non-working day) | Wednesday |
Joining up your repeat prescriptions
If you order different repeat prescriptions throughout the month and they don’t all fall at the same time, ask us to join up or ‘synchronise’ your prescriptions. This can save you time and multiple visits to your pharmacy.
The doctor will issue a “one-off” prescription of the tablets you need to synchronise all your medication to within a day or two and then in future, all your repeat prescriptions will be available to order at the same time.
You can ask us to do this by:
- Using our online form
- Using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
- Using the GP online system: Patient Access
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your repeat prescription from the pharmacy 5 to 6 working days after you order it. That’s because our practice needs three working days to process your request, and the pharmacy needs 2 to 3 working days to prepare the medication for collection.
If your doctor or nurse has prescribed a short-term medication for collection same-day, your pharmacy will still need some time to prepare your medicines before you can collect. If you need your medicines urgently, contact your pharmacy.
You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.
You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:
- On the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
- At the surgery
- At any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions.
Check with your pharmacy to see if they offer text or email alerts when your medication is ready, as most do nowadays. You can also view prescriptions ready for your pharmacy to prepare within the NHS App. Go to Your Health > View and manage prescriptions > Your approved prescriptions.
Questions about your prescription
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. Go to Medicines A to Z (nhs.uk)
If you would like to speak to someone at the surgery about your prescription:
- Phone us after 10am and ask to speak to one of the pharmacists (Monday to Friday).
Medication reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).
What to do with old medicines
Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it to the surgery when you visit us next. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
About pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help.
They may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First). Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:
- earache
- impetigo
- infected insect bites
- shingles
- sinusitis
- sore throat
- urinary tract infections or UTIs
If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed. They will also update your GP health record.
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription to help with aches and pains, coughs, colds and hayfever. Find a pharmacy (nhs.uk)
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.