PLEASE  NOTE: WE DO NOT ACCEPT REQUESTS FOR MEDICATION/PRESCRIPTIONS BY TELEPHONE.

Those patients who are on regular prescriptions for chronic conditions are entered into our repeat prescription programme, whereby repeat prescriptions can be ordered and collected without seeing the doctor every time. We encourage patients to register for on line services and to  request repeat medication via the website. If you are unable to do this, please tick the items required on your repeat slip and put it in the post box at the front of the surgery.

We do not accept e-mail requests for medication. This takes much longer to transfer and process compared to accessing through online services. Thank you for your understanding.

Please allow 5 working days for the processing of repeat prescriptions.

If you are a dispensing patient you can put your request into the box at the dispensing counter, or post. You will then be able to collect your medicines from the dispensary after 5 working days.

If your wish to receive your signed prescription back by post, you should include a stamped addressed envelope.

We cannot take requests for repeat prescriptions over the phone – This can lead to mistakes that may be harmful.

Signed prescriptions ready to take to the chemist will be available for you to collect after 3 working days.

At the bottom of your printed list of drugs, you will find a ‘Review Date’. Please make an appointment with the doctor so that your medication and your general health can be reviewed.

Dispensary will closed on Wednesday afternoons. Prescription requests can still be dropped in, in paper form or submitted electronically. Acute medication prescribed that afternoon, for immediate use will still be dispensed.

“As has been the case for many years we are delighted to reassure our dispensing patients that our accreditation as a Dispensing Doctors is confirmed again for the coming years. We look forward to continuing to serve the local community for acute and repeat medicines.”

The rules of dispensing can appear quite complex and sometimes frustrating but they are important NHS rules and regulations which we must abide by. We are only allowed to dispense to patients who live more than 1 mile (1.6km) from a chemist and that mile has to be measured in a direct line from the chemist to the patient’s house.

The practice can no longer dispense to Shopwhyke Lakes as it is not a rural area. This is not the surgery's decision.

All those whose residential address allows it are of course very welcome to make use of our dispensary service. If we can dispense to you, you will be informed on registration. You will them be able to get all of your medicines directly from our dispensary. The dispensers will also deal with your repeat prescription requests.

Community Pharmacy England has launched a new website to provide patients with information about several NHS services that pharmacies in England are providing. The website (communitypharmacy.org.uk) provides information on the following three services:

• Pharmacy First Service;
• Hypertension Case Finding Service (publicly known as the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service); and
• Pharmacy Contraception Service.

There is a separate page for each of the services on the website providing patients with information about the three services and there are links to the NHS website to find a pharmacy that offers the service.

The website also provides information to help patients understand about their right to choose which pharmacy they wish to use to access relevant services.

Most of the local chemists offer a service whereby you can leave your request slip with them, they then bring all the request slips from our patients to us and collect those that have already been processed and signed by a doctor.

They will then make up the processed prescription ready for you to collect. Please ask either your chemist or our receptionist if you would like more information.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.90
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £114.50
• 3-month PPC: £32.05

If you will have to pay for 3 or more prescription items in three months or more than 12 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

A specialised HRT PPC exists for Hormone Replacement Therapy costing £ 19.80 for 12 months, covering qualifying HRT medicatiosn ONLY

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.