Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
- using SystmOnline: SystmOnline
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- hand in your repeat prescription slip to either surgery
- post your repeat prescription slip to Sixpenny Handley
- set up a deferred order request
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
A month’s supply will be dispensed and you will be advised how often it can be repeated before it needs to be re-authorised by the doctor. The date shown on the right hand side of the prescription tells you when you next medication review is due.
For any any new medication recommended by a specialist (NHS or Private), or other healthcare worker outside the practice, it may be necessary to see your GP to discuss the medication before we can dispense it. There may be a delay before you have a consultation and if your specialist indicates it is urgent to start new medication, they should provide you with a prescription which can be dispensed by the hospital pharmacy or a community pharmacy. We can’t dispense these prescriptions for you.
Pharmacy 2U prescription requests
If you are going to use Pharmacy2U rather than the practice dispensary or 24 hour collection point please contact us in writing or via email to: dispensary.sph@nhs.net to enable us to add this request to your record, this may take up to 14 days to set up. Prescriptions can either be collected or sent to Pharmacy2U.
Please make sure you are aware of their timings for prescription requests to obtain you medication before running out.
Collecting your prescription
All repeat prescriptions are dispensed at Sixpenny Handley but may be collected from your preferred surgery.
You can usually collect your prescription 4 working days after you have ordered it.
Prescriptions requested after 3pm will be included with the following working days requests.
The practice dispenses most medication from both sites but controlled drugs can ONLY be collected from The Sixpenny Handley Dispensary.
For urgent medication, we hope you will be able to leave the surgery with any medicines required on the day, as you leave the surgery.
You can choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. This is known as nominating a pharmacy.
You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:
- on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
- at any pharmacy that accepts repeat 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 GP surgery about your prescription:
- fill out an ask a prescription question form
Medication reviews
All patient’s who have repeat medication, must be reviewed at regular intervals to check the medication is having the desired effect and that no changes need to be made.
On your prescription, there is a date shown under each medication to tell you when a review is due. This gives you an opportunity to submit your medication review, as after this date, you must see a doctor before any more medication can be issued. We hope you will agree that this is a robust system which puts your safety first.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).
You can also find out if you are entitled to free prescriptions.
What to do with old medicines
Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. 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 room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff.
