General Information About Requesting Prescriptions

PLEASE NOTE - We do not prescribe hayfever remedies so please do not request them. They are widely avaliable to purchase over the counter or at your local pharmacy. This includes patients who are exempt from paying for their prescriptions.

Medication Reviews

If you are asked to attend for a medication review and/or blood tests/blood pressure test, please be assured that this is part of our quality improvement drive aiming to deliver excellent patient care.   Your co-operation is appreciated.

Requesting a prescription during the current Covid19 crisis – updated 26/03/2020

Please request all prescriptions on-line where possible

If you do not have access to the internet post requests in our post box located in the surgery foyer

When requesting a prescription please nominate a local pharmacy for collection. The surgery has suspended the collection of prescriptions from the surgery to restricting foot fall on our premises for the protection of both patients and staff.

Please do not request extra medication or request medication earlier than required, these requests will not be dealt with unless there is a medical need, this in line with guidance from the Clinical Commissioning Group.

Requesting medication you have either never previously been prescribed or have not had for a long period of time: Please contact the surgery and arrange a call back from one of our clinical team who will assess your medical requirements.

PLEASE ALLOW 7 FULL WORKING DAYS from submitting your request to collecting from your nominated pharmacy. PLEASE DO NOT PHONE THE SURGERY OR THE PHARMACY TO ASK IF YOUR PRESCRIPTION IS READY

Patients who are self-isolating and require help to order or collect medication please contact the Cornavirus community helpline email: burnhamandhighbridge@gmail.com Tel -  01278 787852

Can I order a repeat prescription in advance?

Except in circumstances where you will be away, the earliest you can order a repeat presciption is seven-ten days before it is due. If you order medication earlier than this there may be a delay before the prescription is issued.

If you are going away, for example, you can make an early request but you will need to provide us with a note stating the reason for your early request. This may then avoid any unnecessary delay.

Patients travelling abroad can ask for a supply of repeat medications for a maximum period of 3 months. Please note that we can only supply 3 month's of medication within a 3 month period, so be aware when ordering. If there is a need for repeat medications for a longer than the 3 month's provided then patients must register with a doctor abroad to obtain ongoing supplies.

Why should there be a delay if I order early?

Regardless of which method you use, the computer system monitors how much is being prescribed and as a result if you request a medication before it is due there may be a delay before the prescription is issued. For example, if in the past six weeks you had received a repeat prescription for three months our computer will tell us that the next prescription is not yet due.

What about urgent prescription requests?

We process approximately 3,000 repeat prescription requests per week and our systems and processes are designed to ensure that we process these requests in the timescale as stated above. To help us achieve this we would ask patients to remember to order medication in time.

Where there is a genuine urgent request we will endeavour to meet your request, however, urgent request should be the exception rather than the norm. Essential medications, such as insulin, will be prioritised.

How will your prescription be sent to your chosen pharmacy?

There are two ways of your prescription being issued;

1. There will be a printed green paper prescription, this can then be available to collect from the medical centre (if desired) or it will be collected by the selected pharmacy (normally on a daily basis).

2. A prescription can be sent via the electronic prescription service (EPS). This means it will be issued/signed by the GP and then sent directly via the spine to your nominated pharmacy. (Please note that not all medications can be sent via this service e.g. controlled drugs).

Please allow some time for the pharmacy to dispense your medication once sent from the medical centre.

Ordering Repeat Prescriptions

In the interests of patient safety we will no longer accept repeat prescription requests by telephone. 

You do not need to see or speak to a doctor or nurse to order repeat prescriptions unless they specifically ask you to come in and see them.

Please order your medication 7-10 days prior to requiring to start the new supply. This allows time for the Surgery and Pharmacy to have received, processed and authorised your request.  If your request has not been authorised then we will endeavour to contact to inform the reason to why.

You simply need to order your required medication via one of the below methods;

1. Standard Website Form...

 Online Prescription Form

2. Patient Access... NEW SERVICE...Sign up via reception

3. By Hand or by Post...

If you require a repeat medication you can return the counterfoil (Part B) to us indicating which items you require by putting a clear tick in the box next to the description of the medication that you require. 

You can do this by handing it in to your local pharmacy to deliver the next time that they visit the surgery or bring it to the medical centre directly and place in the allocated box in the foyer.  Remember to select a pharmacy nomination if you wish for use to send your prescription directly to the pharmacy for dispensing.

If you wish for us to return your prescription via the post then enclose a stamped self addressed envelope with your order. N.B we are not in control of the postal system, so if you would like for us to post your prescription please allow sufficient time.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs). Currently the following are exempt from charges:

• Men and women over 60 years
• People under 16 years
• People under 19 years in full time education
• Pregnant women and mothers up to one year after the birth
• People on income support or family credit
• People suffering from epilepsy, diabetes, hypothyroidism, diabetes insipidus, Addison's disease, myasthenia gravis.

For other patients the NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which Government has thought it reasonable to charge those who can afford to pay for their medicines. If you have to pay for prescriptions, and if you need extensive medication, prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings.

For more information please visit https: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/nhs-prescription-charges-from-1-april-2018 

Repeat Prescription Service has been withdrawn

As of the 1st May 2018 the repeat prescription service which is offered by the pharmacies is no longer available for Highbridge patients. This is following recommendations from Somerset CCG, Highbridge Medical Centre has taken the decision to withdraw this service.

You can place an order for your repeat prescription by one of the following ways:

• Dropping your repeat prescription request at your local pharmacy
• Dropping your repeat prescription request at the GP practice
• Placing an order online –
• - Via the practice website
• - Via the patient access app (speak to reception to sign up)
• Posting your request directly to the surgery
• Sending a fax via 01278 795486

If you already order your repeat prescriptions directly from your GP surgery this change will not affect you.

Pharmacies that collect prescriptions from the GP surgery for dispensing and those that offer the delivery service will continue to do so.

As your GP surgery will no longer accept repeat requests from your pharmacy you will need to order your repeat prescriptions from your GP surgery when you have 7 to 10 days of medication left.

What you need to do:

Don’t leave it until the last minute to order and remember that your pharmacy will also need at least 48 hours to dispense your medicines.  We advise that you place your order 7-10 days before you are going to run out.

Why is this happening?

Under the old system patients built up a stock of unused medicines. The NHS can reduce the cost of waste medicines through improving repeat prescribing systems. The money saved through reducing medicines waste will be used to assist all areas within the NHS.

The new system is also safer as your GP can monitor your prescribed medicines more easily and discuss the prescription items that you need to continue at your regular reviews.

Thank you for your co-operation and understanding through this transition period.

Highbridge Medical Centre Prescription Team

Batch Dispensing

If you, or someone you care for, use the same medicines regularly you may be able to benefit from repeat dispensing.

This scheme is used to produce six months of prescriptions which are kept by your chosen pharmacy and means that during the life of the repeatable prescription you can call at the pharmacy and collect your continued supply of medicines, the same day, without the need to wait and reorder prescriptions through the surgery.

Each time you visit the pharmacy, they will check that the medicines are still needed and are being used appropriately. It is also an opportunity to make better use of pharmacists' skills by helping patients get the most out of their medicines and working with patients to make a professional decision when to dispense the supply of medicines

If you require more information, please speak to the prescription team or reception.

All patients who are prescribed any medication on prescription are required to have at least an annual medication review with the surgery. This may be in the form of a blood test, blood pressure check, appointment with one of our specialist nurses, pharmacist or doctor.

These reviews are required to ensure that your medication is continually prescribed according to NHS guidance and that all of your symptoms/conditions are well managed.

If you are prescribed a controlled drug please click onto the below link which will provide you with more information.

Controlled Drug / Opioid Reviews

If you would like to discuss your pain medications as you feel that they are not working for you or that your pain is just not being managed, please speak to your GP.

Also you may find it useful to watch "Sean's Story" on how changing his outlook of his pain has improved his life. See the link below;

Sean's Opioid Story video