In line with the other practices in our locality, Arthur Medical Centre is changing our general prescribing periods from 28 day to 56-day prescribing, starting from April 2023 with a phased approach over the next 12 months. This change of practice is intended to support those patients who pay for their prescriptions and may be prohibited from accessing their medication due to cost. This policy is also felt to be more convenient for our patients.
We have agreed that the following patients will remain on 28-day prescribing
- Blister pack patients
- Care Home patients
- Weekly list patients
- Patients at risk of overdose
- Complex patients where medication is often changing
- Patients on multiple medications (over 10 items)
- Patients on Controlled Drugs e.g., morphine gabapentin /pregabalin
- High risk drugs e.g. DMARDS Lithium Amiodarone
We will amend patients’ prescriptions upon completing annual medication reviews. This is normally conducted in line with patient’s birthdays from April 2023. This means we will have reviewed most patients with a repeat prescription by March 2024.
Patients who pay for their prescriptions may request via Reception to organise this ahead of their annual review. In this event, a request will be sent to the pharmacy group for review and if appropriate, your repeat prescription will be changed if it is considered safe to do so . This does not require an appointment to be booked with a clinician.