Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- email nencicb-cu.spencerstscripts@nhs.net with the following information
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Name of medication required
- Dose
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 working days after you have ordered it.
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 your GP practice
- at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions
Electronic Prescribing Service
This practice is set up for the electronic prescription service.
This means that for most patients we can send your prescription to your chosen chemist directly saving you having to come down to the surgery.
To get your prescription sent to your chosen pharmacy you will have to ask reception to sign up.
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (ERD)
ERD is a system which allows pharmacies to have a year long subscription to your repeat medications.
In basic terms, this means you will have access to your regular repeat dispensing prescriptions at your nominated pharmacy. Removing the need for you to first request your prescription from your GP Surgery.
Contact our medicines team on 01228 529171 if you would like to be added to this service.
Non-urgent advice: Information
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.
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. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
About pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
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.
Medication Monitoring
Prescribing of medications liable to abuse, overuse or misuse or when there is a risk of addiction will be closely monitored to ensure your safety.
Prescribing of following groups of medications will be closely monitored:
- Painkillers – e.g. Codeine, Tramadol, Co-codamol, Co-dydramol, Gabapetin, Pregabalin
- Medicines for anxiety / insomnia – e.g. Diazepam, Temazepam, Zopiclone
It is the responsibility of the patient to:
- Take their medications in line with any agreed plan or reduction plan, whether set by the GP or a secondary care colleague. This must not be challenged via care navigation staff. If the patient wants to discuss a change, this must be via direct appointment with their GP or their consultant, whoever has set the reduction plan.
- Take responsibility for managing their own medication.
- Take appropriate measures to prevent their prescribed medication being sold or traded to others.
- Provide a urine sample upon request to confirm medication being prescribed is being taken
- Not supply their own prescribed medication to others.
- Treat the practice, its staff and services with respect.
Requests for early prescriptions, or requests for replacement of lost or stolen medication will not be processed via the repeat medication ordering process. Patients will be required to make a GP appointment so that the reasons can be explored and in order to avoid serious deterioration in health or avoid serious harm.
FAQs
Why does it take so long for a prescription to be processed?
We ask for 72 working hours’ notice to process a prescription. This ensures we have your prescription ready for you in time as we average between 200 prescription requests per day.
Repeat prescriptions are processed initially by the care navigation and medicines management teams. They then have to be sent to the GP for checking, authorisation and signature. A medication review may be due and this can delay things but it is there for your safety, we need to ensure medications are taken as directed and are not over or underused. GP’s are busy and their repeat prescribing workload is undertaken in between seeing their patients in surgery, home visits, dealing with telephone calls, reading hospital correspondence and test results etc, hence we request 72 hours’ working notice to give the GP time to do the clinical checks they need to do, to ensure prescribing remains safe.
If you are going to be away for an extended period of time we can legally give you a 3 month supply of medication however any longer than this and you would have to register with a new doctor at your location.