Prescriptions

**Notice published on 2 Sep 20: Due to staff sickness and resourcing issues, prescriptions will take a little longer than usual to process for the foreseeable future. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

If you receive regular medication there are a number of ways in which you can request a repeat.

• There is a tear-off slip attached to your prescription which you can fill in and use to request your next prescription. Just tick the boxes next to the medicines you want and return the slip to us.
• Alternatively, you can write your request on one the forms at reception or on plain paper.
• We also have an online repeat prescription service which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service allows you to view your test results and view your medical record.

For reasons of confidentiality and safety we are not able to take repeat prescription requests by telephone or email.

To enable us to process your request promptly and efficiently please ensure the items requested are clear, including dosage and amount required and include your name, your address, your date of birth, and which Pharmacy you would like your prescription sent to if it different to the one we have recorded for you on our system.

Please help the receptionist and yourself by remembering the following key points when requesting a repeat prescription:

Prescriptions can take up to 5 working days to process. Please see the table below for approximate timescales.

• You can ask at reception for your prescription.
• If you are posting and requesting a posted return allow extra days for possible Royal Mail delays.
• Urgent prescriptions may take at least 8 hours to produce and may require you returning to the practice as there are not always staff available to immediately process and sign them.
• If you request your repeat prescription by writing to us you must include your name, your address, your date of birth, where you would like to collect your prescription from (if different form your nominated Pharmacy) and a full list of items required.

NOTE: A repeat prescription is an item that has been approved by the doctor and will appear on the right hand side of your prescription. You may wish to order items which do not appear on this list, even though you may have had them before. These are not repeat items and will need to be looked at carefully by the doctor, so may take longer to process. You are not automatically entitled to any item that is not on your repeat list.

If you are taking long-term medication it will be necessary for you to see your doctor annually. Please phone 01285 654733 to arrange an appointment and to check whether you will need any blood tests prior to seeing the doctor.

Pathfinder Prescriptions

When the chemist tells you that you are collecting your last issue, you must:

• request another prescription by either calling in to the surgery or requesting it online
• THIS MUST BE DONE STRAIGHT AWAY as this type of prescription takes longer to process
• If the GP wishes to see you before another pathfinder can be issued, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW. There is no need for you to make an appointment
• Unless you hear from us, another pathfinder prescription will be sent to your chosen chemist

Repeat Prescriptions

We aim to have your prescription  at one of the local pharmacies (or you may collect it from the surgery) within 5 working days of your request . Although it will then  be with the Pharmacy, you should ask them how much more time they require to prepare your prescription.

Any item not on your repeat list may take longer to process. We will try to keep you informed if it is likely to be delayed.