Salisbury Avenue Surgery

Repeat prescriptions

If you need regular medication and your doctor does not need to see you every time, you will be issued with a repeat prescription. When you collect a prescription you will see that it is perforated down the centre. The left-hand side is the actual prescription. The right-hand side (re-order slip) shows a list of medicines that you can request without booking an appointment to see a doctor. Please tear off this section (and keep it) before handing the prescription to the chemist for dispensing.

Important

Repeat prescription request must be requested at least 48 hours before the medication is required. At times you may not be able to request prescriptions for certain medications without first having a review with a doctor.

Forgot your 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.

Help with costs

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.

How to order your prescription

Online

Use your Patient Access account to request your repeat prescription. If you don't yet have an account, we recommend to register

In person

You can order in person by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications, or by submitting a handwritten request. The right-hand side of the prescription sheet should be clearly ticked with the items required and handed to the receptionist.

By post

You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the practice. You must include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the surgery (please allow extra time for any possible delays with the postal service).

Pharmacy order/collection service

Pharmacies offer a prescription collection service from our practice. They can also order your medication on your behalf. This saves you time and unnecessary visits to the practice. Please contact the pharmacy of your choice for more information if you wish to use this service.

Telephone

Telephone requests are only available for housebound patients.

Medication reviews

We conduct medication reviews every 3-6 months depending on your condition and you will be reminded of when this is due with your prescription.

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.

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.

Hospital requests

When you are discharged from hospital you should normally receive five days supply of medication.

On receipt of your medication requirements, which will be issued to you by the hospital, please visit the surgery to provide them with this information, or post the details via self & stamped addressed envelope, before your supply of medication has run out.

Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by the GP first, and if necessary your doctor will provide you with a prescription. The practice will endeavour to have this available by 4pm on the same day, however your prescription cannot be issued until your medical details are checked by the doctor; therefore on occasion, you may be advised to collect it the following day.