In line with other practices locally and NHS guidance, we adopt a policy of only prescribing 28 days of medication at a time. This applies for all patients. The exception is for HRT/Contraception where we follow NHS guidelines and can prescribe 3 months supply.
One of the main drivers behind this decision is to reduce waste in the NHS, it is estimated that up to £1million of medication is wasted in West Berkshire each year due to over-ordering and unused medication. As a practice, we also feel this is much safer and will allow us to monitor medication over-use and under-use more easily. It will hopefully reduce any confusion and the number of mistakes made by patients, especially the elderly, when they take their medicine, as patients will be less likely to have multiple partly filled containers of medicine at home.
Prescription costs
The prescription charge for April 2024 will remain at £9.90.
The majority of patients collecting repeat prescriptions do not pay prescription charges. If you do have to pay prescription charges and need 4 or more prescription items in 3 months or more than 12 in 12 months, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) could save you money on NHS Prescription costs:
- A 3-month PPC costs £32.05
- A 12-month PPC costs £114.50
For further information visit NHS prescription charges – NHS (www.nhs.uk) Patients can call 0300 330 2089 for help and support.
HRT prescription prepayment certificate
The DHSC has introduced a new 12-month Prescription Prepayment Certificate to reduce the cost of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for patients.
- 12-month PPC for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is £19.80.
Please note not all HRT medications required for menopause treatment are covered by this certificate and it is the responsibility of the patient to check. Please visit the link below to find out more information about the new HRT prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) which goes live from 1st April 2023: HRT PPC guidance | NHSBSA
For those patients suffering financial hardship please consider applying for a “help with health costs” certificate. This form can be downloaded from https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme/hc2-certificates-full-help-health-costs
Prescription requests
Repeat prescription requests may be submitted in the following ways:
- You can order via the NHS App. If you do not have online access registervia our website: www.kintburyandwooltonhillsurgeries.co.uk/navigator/register-for-online-services/
Please note: you will have to first register for this service. If you are unable to do this, please ask for help at reception.
- By personal attendance at the surgery, using the counterfoil repeat prescription slip issued with your last medication.
- By post, by sending in the counterfoil repeat prescription slip.
Further information
- We are a dispensing practice and you will be able to obtain your medicines from the surgery unless you live within 1 mile of a chemist (as the crow flies).
- Please allow at least 5 working days (excluding weekends, bank holidays and half day closing) for your request to be dispensed. At busy periods this may have to be extended to 7 working days. We will send a text message to let you know that your medication is ready to collect. It would help us if you could collect your medications after 10am.
- During very busy times of the year such as over the Christmas/New Year period, Easter and Bank holiday weekends please do not order your medication earlier. Please continue to order as you would normally.
- The Electronic Prescription Services is now available at both our sites. It requires the patient to consent to the introduction of two-way sharing between the dispensing and the prescribing site. The patient should nominate a dispensing site, written consent is not required. Patients can change their nominated dispenser at any point within the electronic repeat dispensing cycle. All outstanding electronic repeat dispensing prescriptions will be transferred to their new nominated dispenser.
- Any prescriptions which have already been downloaded to the previously nominated dispenser have to be returned to the NHS Spine to be pulled down by the newly nominated dispenser. The previous dispensing token, for the previous issue, can be reprinted, given to the patient and used to retrieve subsequent issues at the newly nominated pharmacy. A reprinted token can also be issued by the clinical prescribing system if required provided the token has been returned to the spine by the previously nominated dispenser.
- Please order when you still have a few days of medication in hand but no more than 2 weeks to allow for possible delays. We do not process prescription requests earlier than two weeks in advance.
- Please be patient with us if there is a delay in obtaining your prescription. This is usually the doctor reviewing the medication request or the practice making sure that the prescription is correct.
- We request you book annual medication reviews in your month of birth with a GP when advised. This appointment is for the doctor to make sure that the medication you are taking is still the best way to manage your medical condition. If you wish to discuss other issues, please request a double appointment. If reviews are not adhered to your medicine supply may be reduced.
- Be prepared for practice staff to ask questions about your medication when you order a prescription.
- Do not stockpile medicines at home, only order those items that you will need until your next prescription is obtained.
- Please return any unwanted medication to the dispensary. We can dispose of them safely for you.
- Sadly, we are no longer able to dispense special order foods (e.g., coeliac options, food supplements or baby formulas) as we do not have the storage facilities to accommodate this, but we will happily send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.
How do I get emergency medication when my GP is closed?
If you do not have a prescription and run out of medicine, you can get an emergency supply from a pharmacy without a prescription. Take an old prescription or the medicine’s packaging with your name on it to show the pharmacist.
You will be assessed by the pharmacist to find out:
- If you need the medicine immediately.
- Who previously prescribed the medicine (to make sure they are a trusted source).
- What dose of the medicine would be appropriate for you to take.
The pharmacist needs to know the answers to all the above questions before they can supply a prescription-only medicine without a prescription in an emergency. They will keep a record of your details, the medicine they provide and the nature of the emergency.
If the pharmacist is not satisfied that the medicine and dose is appropriate for you, they may not supply the medicine. You may need to pay for this service and medicine, even if you do not normally, because they are being provided without a prescription. This may vary between pharmacies.
Alternatively, you may visit your nearest Walk-in-Centre or call 111. For more details visit here: Out-of-hours-medicines – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Reviewed: December 2024