Repeat Prescriptions
If you are on regular medication,
You may request repeat prescriptions without seeing your doctor, usually every month (28 days).
Some medication may be for 2 months (56 days), max 3 months (for example contraceptive pills).
The list of medications can be viewed in NHS app, my GP app, or Patient Access.
Please note: NHS app is NOT the same as NHS Covid-19 app.
Alternatively, GP reception can print out a slip with the list of your medications.
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Medications not on repeat prescription list:
There may be medicines you use occasionally. They may not be in your repeat list.
If you need another prescription, please contact the surgery by eConsult.
The doctors will need to review your records so it may take an extra day. They may contact you by telephone to discuss your condition.
If you wish to try a new or different medication, you may need to speak to the doctor.
[Additonal note 13.03.2023 - re: Wegovy - please seen What's New on this website]
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REQUESTS ONLINE:
Electronic requests and electronic prescriptions are handled directly by your GP. It is the quickest way.
You may make your request by:
NHS mobile app - Android
NHS mobile app - iOS
my GP mobile app - Android
my GP mobile app - iOS
Patient Access mobile app - Android
Patient Access mobile app - IOS
When you first set up the account, you may be asked for a code. This code is automatically generated in your records. Please ask GP reception.
If you have lost your Online Access user name or password, please contact our team who will be ready to assist you.
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REQUESTS ON PAPER:
Please ask for a print out request slip (on the right side of paper prescriptions).
Please avoid handwritten notes if possible. We appreciate that your handwriting may be beautiful, yet we can still misread it.
And please, please do not ask for "the same as usual", or "what I had last time"...!
- By hand (and dropped in the box by the reception desk)
- By post (please enclose a self-addressed envelope)
- Asking your pharmacist to forward your request:
This is no longer recommended, because every additional step of handling means more chance of mistake.
It may also take extra time to process requests this way.
However we recognise that some patients may have nobody else to help them.
You will need to sign an authorization letter at the pharmacy.
Please note this will be processed by other members of staff. They convert this into electronic request, then send it on to the doctors. It will take UP TO ONE WEEK to be ready.
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REQUESTS BY PHONE/ FAX/ EMAIL:
Prescriptions cannot be requested by telephone. Verbal messages are prone to misunderstanding and giving out wrong medicines.
(We may make exceptions for elderly and disabled patients, if there is no one else to help them.)
We no longer attend to the fax line. Please do not use this method for anything.
We communicated with you by email a lot during the pandemic lockdown. It was possible because fewer patients came to the surgery.
We cannot recommend requesting prescriptions by email now. It will be a slower process, as it does not reach the doctors directly.
Please allow up to seven days if you use email.
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Collecting prescriptions
Please state if you would like your Prescription to go over to your preferred pharmacy, or if you would like to collect it from the surgery.
Most prescriptions are sent directly by secure electronic transmission, to the pharmacy of your choice.
Note: Alexandra Surgery does not recommend or endorse any particular pharmacy in the community.
Please allow up to 3 working days to act on your request. For non-electronic requests, or requests via your pharmacy, please allow UP TO ONE WEEK.
If you wish to collect a paper presription, please allow UP TO ONE WEEK.
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Medication review
Repeat prescribing may be authorised for a period of up to 6 months, at the discretion of the doctor.
When the prescription expires, the doctor will need to review your condition and then re-authorise it.
This review may be in person, by telephone, or based on other health records available to the doctor. It is usually done by a doctor, nurse, or a pharmacist.
Certain medications that carry a higher risk of side effects need regular monitoring. This may be every few weeks or every few months. Monitoring often involves laboratory tests. If you do not follow the monitoring requirement, the doctor may have to stop prescribing your medication.
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Late night pharmacies 🌜🦉
Some pharmacies are open late every day or on certain days.
To find a pharmacy and its opening hours, please visit the NHS web page:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
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