Ordering repeat prescriptions
- The quickest and easiest way to order repeat medication is via Patient Access, either online or via the app – https://www.patientaccess.com/
- Check how many days of medication you have left before ordering your medication.
- You will need to order your repeat medication from us when you have 7 days of medication left.
- It usually takes us 48 hours to issue a prescription.
- Once the pharmacy receives your prescription it can take them 48 hours to prepare it.
- Remember to only order the medication you need for the month.
- You don’t need to order medication every month for it to stay on repeat prescription.
- If your repeat medication is not in sync – ask your GP practice for a Prescription Alignment form. You can also download one HERE. Complete it and pass it to the practice with your next prescription request.
- All prescriptions issued at the practice are now sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy who will dispense the medication and have it ready for you to collect. To register with the pharmacy of your choice simply ask at their counter.
- Speak to your pharmacy about what services they offer e.g. prescription collection and delivery.
- The prescriptions for some medicines, for example, strong painkillers e.g. tramadol, morphine and fentanyl cannot presently be sent electronically to the pharmacy. This is expected to change but, currently, they will be printed and will need to be collected from your surgery. On collection, by yourself, a representative or by your pharmacy, there will be extra checks in place and a signature may also be required.
- Please speak to your GP practice if you are unable to order your repeat medication yourself, or you don’t have someone else who can help you, or if your circumstances change.
- For further information on patient led ordering please visit the NHS Wirral CCG website at; https://www.wirralccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/changes-to-the-way-you-order-repeat-prescriptions-in-wirral/
If your GP gives you a prescription you need to take it to a Pharmacy for the medication to be dispensed. You should fill in the details on the back of the prescription form and sign it before handing it over to the Pharmacist. Unless you are eligible for free prescriptions you will have to pay a charge for each item on your prescription. This charge is currently £9.65 (From April 2023).
If you are entitled to receive your prescriptions free of charge you will need to be able to prove this. If you claim exemption when you are not entitled to you may have to pay a fine.
Certain groups of people are entitled to free prescriptions. This applies to;-
v Children under 16 and young people in fulltime education who are under 19
v People aged 60 and over
v Pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months get free prescriptions if they have an exemption certificate. Ask for form FW8 from your midwife to apply for your exemption certificate. The form tells you what to do.
v People getting certain benefits
v People with certain medical conditions – including cancer
To see if you qualify for free prescriptions look in leaflets HC11 – Help with Health costs – which is obtainable from Post offices, some pharmacies and GP surgeries.
You can also get a copy by writing to the Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH
Or you can look on the web at
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
Search for “Help with Prescription costs”
If you are not entitled to free prescriptions but are on regular medication you could save money by buying a Prepayment Certificate – otherwise known as a “season ticket”. These are available for periods of either three or twelve months.
Current costs are:-
3 month certificate – £31.25
12 month certificate – £111.60
To apply for one of these certificates ask for NHS From FP95 which is available from your surgery or on the NHS website on the link below
NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) | NHSBSA
Search for “Prepayment certificate”
Pharmacy services
If you or a member of your family feels unwell, your local pharmacy may be your first port of call.
Pharmacies are easy to find and accessible. You do not need to wait for an appointment or travel to your GP to discuss minor health issues and problems. You can talk to your Pharmacist in total confidence. Usually, the problems can be sorted ‘on the spot’.
The pharmacy is there to support your GP by offering general health advice about minor health problems together with advice on diet, how to give up smoking, alcohol use and what medicines to take on holiday. They can also provide professional advice on family planning and baby care.
They supply aids and products associated with chiropody, incontinence and ostomies, as well as surgical hosiery, trusses and dressings. Your Pharmacist may be able to test you for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and pregnancy.
More and more medicines are now available over the counter without a prescription, and there is a growing trend for people not to go to the doctor with a common illness, but to treat it themselves.
Before you buy any medicine, it is important that you receive the correct advice. If the Pharmacist or assistant asks you questions before selling you any medicine, do not be offended. They are doing their best to help you. They need to know as much as possible about you and your illness in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment.
The Pharmacist may suggest that:-
- Your condition does not need any particular medicine
- You try taking a particular non-prescription medicine
- You should go to the doctor first before taking anything
If your Pharmacist recommends that you see your doctor, follow that advice.
Medicines
Do not expect your GP to give you a prescription every time you visit. You may simply not need any medicine!
If you are given a prescription, it may be for a medicine under its ‘generic’ or general name, not under its better-known ‘trade’ name. All drugs prescribed by your GP are tested to the same high standard and while the colour, shape, size and taste of your regular medicine may differ from what you may be used to, the active ingredients will be the same.
By prescribing you a ‘generic’ medicine, your GP is saving the NHS money which can be spent on other NHS services.
Many of the drugs you may be prescribed are now available directly from your local pharmacist. These are called ‘over the counter’ drugs and often cost less than a prescription charge. Your GP or Pharmacist will be happy to tell you if your medicine is available over the counter.
Do not forget your local pharmacist can also help you with a wide range of health issues.
