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The Speedwell Practice


Repeat Prescriptions

 

Prescribing of Over the Counter Medicines is Changing

 

Please be aware the GP or Practice Nurse will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or a supermarket in your local community.

 

For more details please see the posters in the surgery or ask your GP, Nurse or reception staff for a leaflet.  You can also use the link below:

 

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/why-cant-i-get-prescription-over-counter-medicine/

 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/1a-over-the-counter-leaflet-print-ready.pdf

 

 

REQUESTING REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS

 

Repeat prescription forms are issued for prescribed drugs which you require on a regular basis. Please read the right hand side of the prescription for details of when reviews are due.

 

Please note:

1. Repeat prescriptions can only be ready for collection in three working days if you hand in the right/white side of your most current prescription with no extras. IF YOU HAND IT IN AFTER 11.00AM, THEY WILL BE PROCESSED THE NEXT WORKING DAY. You can also email us at barccg.speedwell.prescriptions@nhs.net  

2. Prescription requests must be in writing and delivered to the surgery either by hand,post, or online. If you require the prescription to be posted back to you please supply the stamped addressed envelope.

3. Please do not book an appointment for the sole purpose of requesting your repeat prescription unless we have asked you to come for a medication review.

4. Telephone calls regarding queries on prescriptions can only be put through to the Repeat Prescription Desk after 11.00am.

5. THERE IS A 7 DAY PROCESSING TIME FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: -

  • Handing in anything else apart from your printed list
  • If you want something different to your usual medications
  • If you want us to consider giving you a new medication from an NHS Hospital.

6. Private Prescriptions

  • Your request will take 7 full working days to process. 
  • We will not prescribe medications that: 
a. Are unlicensed under NHS guidelines. 
b. Require a 'Shared-Care Protocol' if it is not in place e.g. Methotrexate 
c. Require the first prescription to come from Secondary Care (i.e. The medication is first prescribed and issued by the local hospital and consultant and then prescribing is taken over by the local General Practitioner). 
  • We will not prescribe Warfarin unles your consultant has referred you to AND you are already under the care of an NHS anticoagulation ("Warfarin") clinic with ongoing monitoring of your blood tests. 
  • The doctors at The Speedwell Practice retain the right the convert your prescription to an alternative generic preparation.
  • For any other queries please arrange a telephone consultation with a GP.

7. Hospital prescriptions:
Please note that it will take 7 working days for a response to a request for the re-issue of a Hospital prescription as an NHS prescription. You may be asked to make an appointment to discuss the prescription request.

A different medicine may be substituted or refusal to issue the prescription may occur.

If you require a response in less than 7 working days please call and arrange a telephone consultation with a doctor.

Please note that the first issue of a new medication should come from the hospital pharmacy, however we are aware that they may be extenuating circumstances where this can not be fulfilled in which case you may need to make an appointment with a doctor

9. For safety you are advised to have regular checks if you are taking long term medication. The doctor or nurse will discuss this with you and agree a monitoring plan. This may require you to have blood and urine tests. For some medications the doctor or nurse will only need to talk to you or check other systems such as blood pressure or breathing periodically and make sure all is well. For more information, click here

 

 

Policy on Medicine Supply for Going Abroad

NHS Policy

 

By law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.  In addition GPs are not required by their terms of service to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that is not present and may arise while the patient is abroad.

 

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should the find an alternative supply of that medication.

 

Patients residing abroad for a period of more than 3 months should be removed from the registered patient list.

 

 

Travel Abroad

  • People travelling within Europe should be advised to carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and everyone should obtain adequate holiday travel insurance cover.For more detailed advice please refer to NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcareabroad/pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx
  • Guidance for prescribers on risk assessment for travelers and appropriate advice is available at https://www.nathnac.org/pro/index.htm
  • Refer to Vaccination in Primary Care Guidelines for vaccines that are available on the NHS for the purpose of travel.
  • Compression socks or stockings for prevention of DVT should not be prescribed. Patients should be advised to purchase these products from the local pharmacy.
  • GPs are not responsible for prescription of items for conditions which may arise while travelling e.g. travel sickness, diarrhoea. Patients should be advised to purchase items to treat these locally prior to travel. Advice is available from community pharmacies if required.
  • For items that are prescription only, patients may be offered and charged for a private prescription e.g. medication for, or needed in case of emergency. The GMS contract allows items for travel to be prescribed privately for patients on the practice NHS list.

 

Malaria Prophylaxis

  • The Department of Health has issued guidance that medication for malaria prophylaxis may not be reimbursed under the NHS.
  • Some medicines for the prevention of malaria are available for purchase “over the counter” at community pharmacies.
  • Prescription only medicines for malaria prophylaxis should be prescribed on private prescriptions. When issuing a private prescription, or providing the medication, practices are allowed to charge a fee for either activity but not for both.
  • Local community pharmacies have access to up to date advice about appropriate malaria prophylactic regimes and can advise travelers accordingly.
  • Patients should be advised to purchase sufficient prophylactic medicines to cover the period of their travel, commencing one week (2-3 weeks for mefloquine so that if adverse events occur there will be time to switch to an alternative) before departure and continuing for at least four weeks on return. Malarone is an exception being started 1-2 days before arrival in a malarial region and stopped one week after leaving.
  • The importance of mosquito nets, suitable clothing and insect repellents to protect against being bitten should be stressed. Remember the four steps (ABCD) to prevent suffering from malaria in UK travelers:
    • Awareness: know about the risk of malaria
    • Bite by mosquitoes: prevent or avoid
    • Compliance with appropriate chemoprophylaxis
    • Diagnose breakthrough malaria swiftly and obtain treatment prompt

Going abroad for less than THREE months

 

  • Medication required for a pre-existing condition should be provided in a sufficient quantity. Most prescriptions will cover holiday periods but if a repeat is due during the trip, the GP may be able to give an early repeat (usually one and no more than three months).
  • Where medication requires frequent monitoring (i.e. blood tests, blood pressure etc.), it may not be appropriate for the GP to prescribe for extended periods. Providing a prescription for longer than the normal 28 days supply is at the GPs discretion.
  • Patients may require a letter stating the drug name and condition it is being taken for to prove medicines are for medical use to the patient. This is at the GPs discretion and may be charged for.

 

Going abroad for more than THREE months and moving abroad permanently

 

  • A GP will only provide the regular repeat prescription of a sufficient quantity (maximum 3 months) in order to get to the destination.
  • Patients should be advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication (this may need to be paid for by the patient). It is wise for the patient to check with the manufacturer that medicines required are available in the country they are moving to.
    • Patients may require a letter stating the drug name and condition it is being taken for to prove medicines are for medical use to the patient. This is at the GPs discretion and may be charged for.

 

Returning from being abroad for less than THREE months

 

  • Patients will continue to be entitled to receive NHS treatment as before their trip.

 

Returning permanently from being abroad for more than THREE months

 

  • For the patient to receive NHS treatment for free (where eligible), it is on the basis of someone being ‘ordinarily resident’.

 

 

 

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