Patient Notice
– Please note prescriptions can take up to 3 working days to be processed.
– Please ensure you order your medication in time so that you do not run out.
– Cofton Medical Centre will not be facilitating the stockpiling of medications by the public.
– Please do not order your medication earlier than you normally would have.
– Please do not order medications that you have not needed for a long time ‘just in case’. Such requests will be declined.
– Please do not contact the practice to check if your prescription has been done, without checking with your nominated pharmacy or the NHS App first. This is to avoid adding extra calls in the queue.
Order your Repeat Prescription
You can order your repeat prescription in one of the following ways:
- The quickest and most straightforward way of requesting your prescription is by using the NHS app to order online (please click here for more information and to register with online services).
- Your local pharmacy can assist in ordering your medications for you. Please contact your preferred pharmacy directly to set this up. If someone else orders your prescription on your behalf (e.g. son/daughter or spouse) this is the best route to order your prescriptions.
- Completing the right-hand side of your paper prescription and posting it in the postbox next to the front door of the surgery.
NHS App
Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet — including prescriptions and appointments. You can also access NHS App services from the browser on your desktop or laptop computer.
What is a repeat prescription ?
The doctors and nurses may start you on a medication that you will need to take regularly for some time. If this happens, it may be possible for you to get it on repeat prescription. This means that you do not have to come to the surgery to get that medication each time you run out.
How can I order a repeat prescription ?
You can order your prescription in one of the following ways:
- The quickest and most straightforward way of requesting your prescription is by using the NHS app to order online (please click here for more information and to register with online services).
- Your local pharmacy can assist in ordering your medications for you. Please contact your preferred pharmacy directly to set this up.
- Completing the right-hand side of your paper prescription and posting it in the postbox next to the front door of the surgery.
- Calling the Prescription Ordering Department (POD) on 0121 368 0020. PLEASE NOTE THE POD SERVICE WILL CEASE FROM 1st APRIL 2022.
How long can I continue getting the medication for ?
We do not allow patients to continue on a medication without any checks. We will order a review date every 6 to 12 months. The review date can be found at the bottom of the right hand page of your prescription. It is best to come in just before this date to see the nurse and they will check that you are safely taking your medications.
If you do not come in for a review it may cause a delay in you receiving your new prescription, and we may not give you as many tablets on the next prescription.
How can I collect my prescription?
We aim to send as many prescriptions as possible directly to pharmacies through the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). If you haven’t already, please let us know where you want your prescription sent.
Over the Counter (OTC) Medications
Over the counter medications are those that can be bought from a pharmacy or supermarket without the need for a prescription.
The way over the counter medications are being supplied is changing, and your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medications.
Please see this document here for more information, or visit the dedicated NHS webpage for Over the Counter medications here.
If you forget to request a repeat prescription
If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and thus run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your Pharmacy. Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, Pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine, without having to get a prescription from your GP.
If you have run out of important medication, telephone your usual Pharmacy to check that they offer this service; if they don’t, they may either direct you to another Pharmacy who does provide it, or ask you to phone 111 where you can request details of a local Pharmacy that provides the service.
You must then take with you to the relevant Pharmacy, proof of both your identification and of your medication (for example, your repeat prescription list or the empty box which should have your details printed on it). Please note that controlled drugs and antibiotics are not provided through this service, you will need to ring 111 for these.
If you receive stoma products from your Pharmacy or other supplier and/or receive items such as continence products, please ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining these over Bank Holidays, or when the Surgery is closed.
Help with NHS Costs
If you need help with NHS costs or need to find out if you can get free prescriptions please click the button below for further information.
Medication reviews
The Doctors at the Practice regularly review the medication you are taking. This may involve changes to your tablets and is in accordance with current Health Authority policies. Please be reassured that this will not affect your treatment. We may sometimes call you in for a medication review and this may involve blood tests. It is very important that you attend these appointments, as it keeps you safe whilst taking medication.
Non-repeat items (acute requests)
Non-repeat prescriptions, known as ‘acute’ prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period, and may require a review visit with your Doctor prior to the medication being added onto your repeat prescription records.
Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the Doctor. Examples include many anti-depressants, drugs of potential abuse or where the prescribing is subject to legal or clinical restrictions or special criteria. If this is the case with your medicine, you may not always be issued with a repeat prescription until you have consulted with your Doctor again.
Hospital and Community Requests
When you are discharged from Hospital you should normally receive seven days supply of medication.
On receipt of your discharge medication, which will be issued to you by the Hospital, please contact the Surgery to provide them with this information before your supply of medication has run out.
Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by a prescribing clinician first, and if necessary a prescribing clinician will provide you with a prescription on request.