Ordering repeat prescriptions
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
You can also:
- fill out a repeat prescriptions request form
- bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.30pm
- post us your paper form. If you wish us to return your prescription by post, please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope
- use the Pharmacy Collection Service. Many pharmacists now run schemes to collect your repeat prescriptions for you. Please enquire about this with your pharmacist
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
Please do not order prescriptions more than a week early. There is a high risk of them being rejected, unless a good reason is provided.
NHS App
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 48 working hours (weekends are therefore excluded) after you have ordered it.
We cannot guarantee any late requests can be completed on the same day.
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
Electronic prescribing service
This practice is set up for the electronic prescription service.
This means that for most patients we can send your prescription to your chosen chemist directly saving you having to come down to the surgery.
To get your prescription sent to your chosen pharmacy you will have to ask reception to sign up.
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.
If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription:
- phone our pharmacist after 10am on 020 8739 1977
- fill in our medication query form
Medication reviews
Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review their regular medications and a notification should appear on your repeat slip.
Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.
Prescription charges
In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:
- those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
- those who are age exempt
- those with certain medical conditions
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.
- Prescription (per item): £9.65
- 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
- 3-month PPC: £31.25
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).
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.
Evidence based medicine
We work hard to ensure our prescribing is of high quality and we will prescribe medicines that are effective, safe and provide value for money. Our surgery complies with local and national guidelines, therefore, there may be a time when your medication will be changed in light of new evidence. Should this apply to you, we will endeavour to keep you fully informed and answer any queries you may have.
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.
Over The Counter Medicines
In line with guidance from NHS England and the South West London Clinical Commissioning Groups, Chessington Park Surgery will not routinely prescribe medication for certain conditions where:
- Self-care is the most appropriate route, and
- Medicines and treatments are available buy over the counter.
Rationale (as per SW London CCG policy)
- These self-limiting and minor health conditions can be treated effectively and safely using over the counter medicines available from pharmacies and other retail outlets.
- Treatments for these conditions can be purchased over the counter, often at a lower cost than that which would be incurred by the NHS or at a cost less than the prescription charge.
- There is little evidence of clinical effectiveness for some of these products.
- By reducing spend on these products, resources can be used for other higher priority areas that will have greater impact for patients, support improvements in services and /or deliver transformation that will ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHS.
Exceptions and Exclusions
As in all areas, the GP has discretion whether or not to comply and will make an informed clinical judgement depending on the circumstances. There are also established exceptions which he or she may take into account. These are as follows:
- Patients prescribed an OTC treatment for a long-term condition (e.g. regular pain relief for chronic arthritis or treatments for inflammatory bowel disease).
- For the treatment of more complex forms of minor illnesses (e.g. severe migraines that are unresponsive to over the counter medicines).
- For those patients that have symptoms that suggest the condition is not minor (i.e. those with red flag symptoms for example indigestion with very bad pain.)
- Treatment for complex patients (e.g. immunosuppressed patients).
- Patients on prescription only treatments.
- Patients prescribed OTC products to treat an adverse effect or symptom of a more complex illness and/or prescription only medications should continue to have these products prescribed on the NHS.
- Circumstances where the product licence doesn’t allow the product to be sold over the counter to certain groups of patients. This may vary by medicine, but could include babies, children and/or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Community Pharmacists will be aware of what these are and can advise accordingly.
- Patients with a minor condition suitable for self-care that has not responded sufficiently to treatment with an OTC product.
- Patients where the clinician considers that the presenting symptom is due to a condition that would not be considered a minor condition.
- Circumstances where the prescriber believes that in their clinical judgement, exceptional circumstances exist that warrant deviation from the recommendation to self-care.
- Individual patients where the clinician considers that their ability to self-manage is compromised as a consequence of medical, mental health or significant social vulnerability to the extent that their health and/or wellbeing could be adversely affected, if reliant on self-care.
Note that being exempt from paying a prescription charge does not automatically warrant an exception to the guidance.
Guidance for Patients, Carers and Guardians
Some conditions are considered to be self-limiting i.e. they will get better themselves and so do not need treatment. Most of these conditions lend themselves to self-care i.e. the person does not normally need to seek medical advice and can manage the condition by purchasing over the counter items. By keeping a selection of essential medications at home you can treat the symptoms of these conditions in a timely manner.
Community pharmacists can offer advice on how to manage the symptoms of these conditions, when to seek medical advice, and what to take if you are on other medication. You do not need to make an appointment to see the pharmacist and many pharmacies are open late nights and at the weekend when the surgery is closed.
Helpful advice in managing these conditions can also be found at:
- See your GP if the condition does not resolve after using over the counter products for the recommended period of time by your pharmacist.
- There are exceptions to this position which includes patients with complex illness or long-term conditions. Please see: NHS England: Prescribing of over the counter medicines is changing
Guidance for Children at School or Nursery
Medicines in Schools and Nurseries
Schools and childcare providers sometimes ask parents/carers to obtain prescriptions or written permission from a GP for over the counter medication such as paracetamol before they will administer to the children in their care. To support implementation of this, the CCGs would like to clarify the interpretation around the current guidance around use of medicines in nurseries and schools.
- Schools and nurseries can only administer prescription medicines to a child when they have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.
- Non-prescription medicines (over the counter medicines) do not require any written consent from a GP or other healthcare professional to allow school and nursery staff to administer them.
- All medication must only be administered to a child under the age of 16 where written permission for that particular medicine has been obtained from the child’s parent or carer.
Further Information
Schools:
The 2015 Department for Education issued statutory guidance ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions.’