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Prescriptions

You are able to order repeat prescriptions and discuss your medication queries with our dispensary team at the Windrush Medical Practice.

For more information regarding our dispensary services and becoming a dispensing patient, please see our Windrush Medical Practice Dispensary page.

Information:

If you have a question about your prescription, you may submit a “Contact the Practice” form on Engage Consult, call our dispensary team, or speak to any pharmacist.

For more information about different medications, how they work, side effects, and more: Medicines A to Z – NHS UK

Ordering repeat prescriptions

You can request your repeat prescription by:

  • Using our “Request a Repeat Prescription” form on Engage Consult
  • Choosing “Request a repeat prescription” on the NHS App homepage
  • Dropping off a repeat prescription slip or letter at our dispensary letterbox stating which medications you wish to receive and where you would like them to be sent

If we dispense medications for you at the Practice, please allow three working days before coming to collect your prescription. For more information about dispensing at the practice: Dispensary.

If you collect your prescription from any other pharmacy, please allow five to seven working days before coming to collect your prescription.

Information:

Please note: we may only dispense medications that are displayed as repeat prescriptions on your request slip or medical record.

Additionally, we do not take repeat prescription requests via telephone. This is because we may not correctly hear which medications you would like to request, which could put you at risk if the wrong medication is issued.

Prescribing of over-the-counter medicines is changing

For more information on the changes to prescribing over-the-counter medications, please see the NHS leaflet.

Collecting your prescription

If we dispense medications for you at the Practice, please allow three working days before coming to collect your prescription. For more information about dispensing at the practice: Dispensary.

If you collect your prescription from any other pharmacy, please allow five to seven working days before coming to collect your prescription.

Nominating a pharmacy

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. This is nominating a pharmacy.

You may be eligible to become a dispensing patient at the Practice. For more information: Dispensary.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time by:

  • Amending your pharmacy nomination in the NHS App while ordering your prescription. For more information: NHS App – Nominating a Pharmacy
  • Submitting a “Contact the Practice” form on Engage Consult to request to change
  • Speaking to any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

Prescription charges

You will be asked to pay for your prescriptions on collection.

If you have any exemption from prescription charges, please bring proof of this when you collect your medicines.

If you collect your medication from our dispensary, our prices are the same that you would pay in any other pharmacy.

For more information about costs: NHS Prescription Charges

Get help with prescription costs

You do not have to pay NHS prescription charges if you have a valid medical exemption certificate. Please ask the dispensary team for a medical exemption form to complete, we will then arrange for the GP to sign.

If you are under 16 or over 60 years of age you are already exempt from prescription charges.

For more information about free prescriptions: Check if you can get free prescriptions – NHS UK.

You may benefit from a prescription prepayment certificate.

For more information: PPC – NHS UK.

Medication requests from hospital

If you are seen in a consultant clinic at the hospital and the doctor thinks that you should start treatment immediately, a 14 day supply of the medication will be prescribed and dispensed by the hospital.

If your consultant asks your GP to consider starting or continuing treatment then they should give the GP notification in adequate time including the diagnosis and drug therapy.

Information about the medication, the clinic attended and if known the name of the doctor who recommended the medication should be provided when making the request.

Once this information is received please allow 3 working days for a prescription to be issued. You do not need to book an appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Do you take private prescription requests?

We may be able to accept your private prescription request. Private prescriptions will be charged depending on the cost of the medication. If the patient chooses to take the prescription away for dispensing then a private prescription fee of £19.20 is payable. If the private prescription is dispensed by the Windrush dispensary then the fee is waived.

To request a private prescription, please submit a “Contact the Practice” form on Engage Consult.

What is your 28 day prescription policy?

The NHS recognises that a 28-day repeat prescribing interval makes the best possible balance between patient convenience, good medical practice and minimal drug wastage.

The British Medical Association notes that “Prescribing intervals should be in line with the medically appropriate needs of the patient, taking into account the need to safeguard NHS resources, patient convenience, and the dangers of excess drugs in the home.”

NICE Guidelines support 28 day prescribing and recommend that medicines are prescribed for no more than 30 days (prescribing larger quantities puts the supply chain at risk).

The benefits of 28-day prescribing include:

– Reducing the amount of medicine which is currently wasted when your doctor stops or changes your medicine.

– Reducing the potential for error when your medication is changed in the middle of supply.

-Increased safety as you will not have multiple containers of the same medicine meaning it is likely to reduce the number of mistakes made by, for example, elderly patients, and it will also reduce the risk of potential poisoning of young children.

– Many medicines are supplied in 28-day packs, allowing you to check that you have taken your medication each day. You will start and finish the container of each medicine on the same day of the week, meaning it will be easier for your doctor to review all of the repeat medicines you are taking and to see when you have not ordered your medicines.

– Financial losses due to medicines waste represent a direct loss to patient care. Since 28-day prescribing reduces medicines waste, this in turn has a positive impact on patient care.

I have unused old medications. What should I do with these?

We are able to take your unused old medications and safely dispose of them at our dispensary.

Please do not dispose of your unused old medications in household waste or down the toilet.

Can a pharmacist help with my condition instead of seeing my GP?

You are able to visit any pharmacy for advice on minor conditions. You may also receive a prescription directly from that pharmacy if they recommend it.

For more information: Pharmacy First

I’ve just been prescribed new medication / I’ve been on my medication for a long time. Will I be seen for a medication review?

We may ask you to come in for a regular review if you have a repeat prescription. We will be in touch when you need to be seen for a review. This may be done by a face-to-face appointment or telephone consultation.

If you would like to request a medication review, please submit a “Request an appointment” form via Engage Consult.

Do you supply and stock dosette boxes?

We may be able to provide and stock dosette boxes.

For more information: Dosette boxes