Prescriptions

Acute / one-off medications

When we first prescribe you a medication, it will be as a one-off prescription and listed on your health record as ‘acute’ medication.

Medication on your acute list is not visible on your NHS App or Patient Access account.

If you then need to take this medication for a longer period, we will move it to your ‘repeat’ medication list.

There are some medicines that we will not add to your repeat list.

For example antibiotics, salbutamol inhalers, certain controlled drugs and medication that may need to be trialled or have your dosage adjusted.

To reorder acute medication online, you can complete the acute medication prescription request form.

Repeat medications

These are medicines that are suitable for you to reorder.

Provided that there is no change in your symptoms and condition, we will usually be able to reissue the prescription without needing to review your condition each time for up to a year.

It is your responsibility to inform us of any changes to your condition or any side effects from your medication that you think you may be experiencing.

Repeat dispensing

For long-term medications that are stable and unlikely to change over the period of a year, we can offer you a repeat dispensing option.

This means we will send a batch of prescriptions to your nominated pharmacy, for them to dispense the medication to you every one or two months.

You will not need to request a repeat prescription each time your medication is running low.

Your nominated pharmacy will inform you when you have used the last prescription in the batch, so you know when to contact us.

At this point, we may need to carry out a medication review with you.

Medication reviews

Patients on repeat medication will need a regular medication review with one of our healthcare professionals.

We will be in touch when you need this so that you can arrange the appropriate appointment.

If you think your medication review is overdue, please contact our Pharmacy Team via Anima.

How will my medication be reviewed and who will review it?

People with long term conditions need to have a review once a year.

Some examples of these include diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, some mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

Patients with other conditions may still be invited for a review periodically and you can request a medication review at any time.

Your medication will be reviewed by the most appropriate healthcare professional; this could be a doctor, pharmacist, specialist nurse or pharmacy technician.

Monitoring

Everyone who needs monitoring completed for their medications will be sent an invite either by letter or text.

If you do not arrange the appropriate appointment for your monitoring then one or more of the following processes may occur:

• You will be sent a reminder text to book your appointment
• Your medication quantity will be halved (e.g. if you usually receive 2-months then you will only get 1-month supply)
• Your medication request may be rejected

Once you have had your review/monitoring, your usual prescription will be reinstated.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you respond to the invitation to have your medication reviewed.

Some patients are eligible for a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)

You can buy prescription prepayment certificates from the NHS which may make your prescriptions cheaper. You can only get a PPC if you live in England.

View current prescription charges.

Understand who can get free prescriptions – NHS (nhs.uk).

Save money with a Prescription Payment Certificate (PPC).

There’s a different way to get a PPC if you’ve been prescribed hormone replacement therapy.

Please see the section below on the HRT prescription prepayment certificate.

To get help with other benefits such as heating, housing and other living costs, as well as Universal Credit, please visit the UK Gov website:

Benefits and financial support if you’re on a low income – GOV.UK

Following changes to NHS guidelines, we will not usually give you or your child a prescription for over the counter medications that are already available to buy in a community pharmacy or supermarket – such as paracetamol, Calpol, and hay fever antihistamines, even if you qualify for free prescriptions.

Unbranded generic versions of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and allergy medication such as cetirizine and loratadine are just as effective as more well-known brands, and discount stores and supermarkets usually stock these very cheaply. We recommend shopping around for good value painkillers, antihistamines, and cold/flu remedies.

For more information such as what conditions we may or may not issue treatment for, why NHS guidelines ask that we no longer routinely issue over the counter medications, and where you can readily find treatment for yourself, please see the following link:

1a-over-the-counter-leaflet-v1.pdf

The Government has introduced a HRT Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) to reduce prescription costs for women receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

The HRT PPC is available to buy in one single payment online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc, or in-person at some pharmacies.

You can call 0300 330 2089 for help and support.

Before buying an HRT PPC, you should check if:

• you’re eligible for free NHS prescriptions using the eligibility checker: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check
• your medicine is covered by the HRT PPC. For a list of eligible HRT medication, visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc-medicines
• a 3 or 12 month PPC is more suitable. It covers all NHS prescriptions, not just HRT items. Visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

Shared Care Agreements – NHS

An NHS Shared Care Agreement is a formal arrangement between you, our practice and an NHS specialist clinic.

Under this agreement, our practice will prescribe specialist medication and undertake appropriate monitoring, while the specialist clinic will continue to review your care at regular intervals.

This arrangement ensures that responsibilities for prescribing are clearly defined and governed by local policies, maintaining patient safety and high standards of care.

Shared Care Agreements – Private

In recent years, more patients seek private treatment and ask GPs to prescribe specialist medications recommended by private specialists, this differs significantly from NHS Shared Care Agreements.

In line with other GP practices, we do not participate in Shared Care Agreements with private providers or issue new prescriptions for specialist medications initiated by private providers, patients must obtain these prescriptions directly from their private specialist.

Shared Care Agreements with private specialists is only possible when this service is being provided for the patient on behalf of the NHS.