Ordering repeat prescriptions
Repeat medication is normally issued in sufficient quantity for 28 days. Prescriptions can be repeated for as long as they are authorised by the clinician.
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- Phone the Medicines Order Line on 01246 588860 between the hours of 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday
- Request the required items through the Online system or use the NHS App to order.
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
Collecting your prescription
A minimum of 7 calendar days’ notice is required between requesting and collecting all prescriptions so that they can be authorised by the Doctor and prepared by your nominated Pharmacy.
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
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).
Private Prescriptions
Information Regarding Prescribing for Patients Considering Private Medical Consultations.
When you see a private specialist, you should be aware what may happen about medication you may need after the consultation.
After a private consultation referral, your private specialist may give you a prescription. Sometimes you may only need one prescription. The prescription provided by your private specialist will be a private prescription and you must pay for the medication.
If you need continued treatment you may be given just one private prescription (which you will need to pay for) and advised to return to your GP to see if further NHS prescriptions can be provided.
An NHS prescription to continue your treatment, will only be provided if your GP considers there is a clinical need and that an NHS patient would be treated in the same way; there is no obligation for the GP to prescribe the treatment recommended by a private specialist. In order to judge your clinical need your GP must have received a full clinical report from the private specialist and therefore you may not be able to have a prescription immediately.
GPs have agreed to prescribe in line with local policies. If the recommendation from your private specialist is for treatment that is not in line with local policies, then your GP may change the medication to be in line with medicines usually recommended for NHS patients. If your GP feels the treatment is for a specialist area your GP can ask the specialist to remain responsible for the treatment and to provide further prescriptions which the you will need to pay for.
Some medications can only be prescribed on the NHS by a GP where there is a shared care prescribing guideline between primary care and the specialist. These shared care agreements are county wide and written by the Derbyshire Medicines Management team. If a private specialist recommends and initiates such a medication then it would be expected that that private specialist would take shared responsibility for using and monitoring of that medication, as would occur with an NHS patient.
The practice may need time to establish that we have been given enough appropriate information and where applicable agreement of any shared care arrangement in order to safely prescribe.
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 consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.