Prescriptions

Medication reviews are needed, usually every 6 or 12 months and we shall ask you to make an appointment with the doctor or nurse. There are certain important checks we need to perform to ensure your medicines are still doing their job and are not causing any problems and that your condition is monitored. When the computer indicates a review is due, please do not delay as the computer blocks any further issues once you are overdue.

If you have been unable to come in time, please NEVER stop your medicines; let us know the circumstances and we shall issue a prescription to keep you going.

There is of course a huge range of useful non-prescription medicines available at chemists, but if you run out of a regular prescription medicines you can obtain a supply out of hours without a prescription from a pharmacist or other source so you should never be without – this could be dangerous.

Find a local pharmacy that will be open late.

Out of Hours Emergency Contraception

There are a variety of methods available, but it is essential you use it as soon as possible after the event for best results.

You can get the emergency contraceptive pill and the IUD for free from:

• GP – we will always fit you in urgently, please ask at reception.
• Your local Contraceptive clinic (find a clinic)
• A sexual health Clinic (find sexual health services)
• Some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• Some young people’s clinics (call 0800 567123)

You can also get the emergency contraceptive pill free from:

• Some pharmacies (find pharmacies near you)
• Most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units 
• Some Accident and Emergency departments

Many excellent and important medicines are available Over The Counter (OTC) at pharmacies. They do not not need to be prescribed by a Doctor and indeed you can save yourself a lot of money as many are cheaper than the Prescription Charge. Pharmacists are highly trained in giving sensible advice about self-help for minor illness, please ask them.

The NHS in NW London CCGs: Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster spent over £13 million in 2016 on products that can be bought without a prescription at community pharmacies.

The NHS is under pressure. Our budgets are not large enough to pay for all the treatments the public would like us to provide. We would therefore like to spend less on medicines you can buy without a prescription so as to free up funds for other valuable NHS services.

Practices across North West London are being asked to stop routinely prescribing medicines which are available to buy over the counter in pharmacies (and, in the case of some medicines, in supermarkets and other shops too). If a medicine you need can be bought without a prescription, your GP may ask if you are willing to buy it.  If you are not willing to buy it, it will be prescribed.

More details can be found here

Here is a list of commonly prescribed medicines which are available without a prescription

Ask us to help synchronise your medicines so you can request them all in one go.

Certain medicines such as the Contraceptive Pill or HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be supplied in 6 month quantities for your convenience but to do this the nurse or doctor may need to see you.

Non-repeat medicines, which you may have only occasionally, can be requested on a medication request form or on-line request but we may ask to see you.