Patients on long-term medication can order a repeat prescription in the following ways:

• Online– Using your Online Services you can request your medication
• Using the NHS App
• In person- we have prescription slips that can be collected from reception. You can drop these off in the letterbox, or prescription box in ground floor Reception
• We do not take requests for prescriptions over the phone or via email.
• Please note that we no longer fax prescriptions to pharmacies.

Please allow 5-7 full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.

Do you get regular medicines?

If you or someone you care for uses the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from using the NHS electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) service. This means you won't have to re-order or collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP practice every time you need more medicine.

How it works?

• Talk to us and ask if you can use eRD. Once this is confirmed and your consent is noted, your prescriber will authorize a number of eRD prescriptions. They will be supplied by your pharmacy at regular intervals.  
• Collect your first eRD prescription from your pharmacy once is due. You can choose any pharmacy that is convenient for you - close to your home or work address.
• Next time you need more medicines, go back directly to your pharmacy. Any extra item which are not your regular medicines, need to be ordered separately, e.g. seasonal medication.
• When your pharmacy supplies your prescription, they will advise you to contact your GP practice to arrange for your medication to be reviewed and if it is clinically appropriate to issue another eRD prescription.

If you wish to know more or would be interested in using eRD service, please contact us at your earliest convenience and we will be happy to help.  

Our practice is collaborating with NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) which is providing NHS numbers for those patients that may be suitable for electronic repeat dispensing prescriptions. The information is obtained from NHS prescriptions submitted to the NHSBSA.  A member of our clinical team will contact these patients soon to explain the benefits of this service.

If you are taking medication/s regularly, your prescription will have a certain amount of collections before the GP needs to review it. The reason for this is to ensure that all medications coming out of the surgery are being appropriately managed and that the medication you are on is the correct medication for you. This can mean that you need to speak to a GP for your next batch, or the GP may be able to put it through for you to collect as usual. This will depend on the type of medication you are on. The Practice will contact you if you need to speak to a GP to review your prescription/s.

Please be advised that needing to review your meds before it can be sent to the pharmacy can cause a delay in when you are next able to collect your prescription. You can find out how many more collections you have by speaking to the Reception Team here at the surgery, or by speaking to your pharmacy.

The combined contraceptive pill can only be issued by Park Crescent Health Centre via a consultation with one of our nursing team.  This is because the pill is not suitable for all women and we need to ascertain every 6 months that it is still the safest and most appropriate form of contraception for you and to allow us to monitor your blood pressure as occasionally this rises whilst taking the pill. 

Clinical Pharmacists are highly qualified health professionals who train for many years to become specialists in medicines and how they work. They can work directly with you, as part of the general practice team, to make sure your medicines help you get better and stay well. Having a clinical pharmacist in the practice team means you can be treated by the best professional for your needs. All pharmacists are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

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): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• 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.