Requests for repeat prescriptions are not accepted by telephone as this can lead to mistakes and block the phone lines for vulnerable or unwell patients.

Repeat prescriptions will normally be ready 72 hours after the request is received, however please be aware pharmacy lead times may vary.

Other Ways to Order Your Prescription

If you have not registered to use our online prescription requesting service, you can speak to your local pharmacy, they may be able to request, pick up and deliver medications on your behalf. You may need to sign an agreement with them, allowing them to manage your medications.

Please ensure that repeat prescriptions are requested well in advance of weekends, bank holidays and your own holidays

• Please re-order your medication two weeks before you are due to run out.

EPS Phase 4

Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)

If you or someone you care for uses the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from using the NHS Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) service.  This means you won’t have to re-order or collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP practice every time you need more medicine.

Step 1

Talk to your GP or the person who prescribes your medicines and ask them if you can use Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD). Your prescriber will usually be your doctor or nurse practitioner.  If your prescriber thinks that you could use eRD for your regular medicines, they will ask you for permission to share information about your treatment with your pharmacist. This will help your pharmacist to give your prescriber feedback about your treatment and provide you with useful advice. Your GP or prescriber will then authorise a number of eRD prescriptions.  This will be based on your circumstances and clinical need. These eRD prescriptions will then be supplied by your pharmacy at regular intervals.

Step 2

Collect your first eRD prescription from your pharmacy.

Step 3

Next time you need more medicines, go back to your pharmacy. Before dispensing the next issue of your prescription, your pharmacy will ask you the following questions:·

Have you seen any health professionals (GP, nurse or hospital doctor), since your last repeat prescription was supplied?·

Have you recently started taking any new medicines – either on prescription or that you have bought over the counter?·

Have you been having any problems with your medication or experiencing any side effects?

If you don’t need all of the medicines on your prescription, let the pharmacy staff know, so that they only supply the medicines you need. This will help to reduce waste and save the NHS money.

Step 4

When your pharmacy supplies your prescription, they will advise you to contact your GP practice to arrange for your medication to be reviewed and if it is clinically appropriate to issue another eRD prescription. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may want you to make an appointment to see them, or they may need you to have some blood tests or a blood pressure check before they will authorise more eRD prescriptions

Urgent Prescriptions

Except for insulin, inhalers, anticonvulsive medication and anticoagulants, the GP’s at Shore Medical have stated that no harm will come to you if you miss a prescription for 24hours.

We therefore ask that you allow us time to process an urgent prescription request and not rush us as this contributes to increased risk of errors.

Apart from those types of medications above, any orders for medication not allowing us the usual two working days timescale will not be issued on the day, and we will ask you to return to your nominated pharmacy the following day to collect your prescription. Thank you

Millions of pounds of NHS funds are wasted each year by ordering medication, which is no longer required.  Please check that the repeat medication list is accurate.  Do not re-order medication that you do not take.

We review all patients on long term medications at regular intervals

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).

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

For more information go to https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/prescription-prepayment-certificates-ppcs

Telephone advice and order line 0300 330 1341