Repeat Prescriptions

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.

This is the easiest and quickest way to order your repeat prescription. See the link above for details.

You can email your repeat prescription request to [email protected]

Please make sure you include you name, date of birth and the details of the medication you require.

Post the computerised repeat prescription slip indicating the medication you require to the surgery, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope. If posting please remember to give at least one weeks’ notice for a first class stamp and longer if using second class.

You can order in person by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications, or by submitting a handwritten request.

In order for prescriptions to be collected from a chemist, patients need to register at their chemist of choice for the ‘Prescription Collection Service’. Once the Chemist has agreed to collect on your behalf, patients then need to instruct the Practice which must be in writing – forms are available from most chemists.

We do not accept requests for repeat prescriptions by telephone. This prevents dangerous errors being made and leaves the telephone lines free for urgent matters.

Repeat medication and special request should be made at least 2 working days in advance. It is preferable to order them approximately one week in advance.

If you find you have run out of your usual medication, you can approach your normal chemist who should be able to furnish you with a supply of your medication under the “unscheduled care” scheme. Please do not abuse this service by asking for “urgent” prescriptions for non-urgent items such as shampoos cream and simple painkillers.

Prescriptions will be ready for collection in two working days (longer by post) if you will be picking the prescription up from the surgery.

Please request repeat prescriptions well in advance of public holidays, etc.

For those that request their prescription be sent to a local pharmacy then the time will be dependant on that pharmacy. Please contact the relevant pharmacy for an indication of the timescale.

The NHS Chronic Medication Service is a voluntary service for people with long-term conditions. It’s available at all community pharmacies across Scotland.

You can only use this service if you’ve registered with a community pharmacy.

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. 

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 prescriptions, known as ‘acute’ prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. You can request these in the same way as a repeat prescription though the doctor or nurse may want to speak to you before adding it to your repeat prescription.

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.

You may have noticed that the label on your painkiller medicine says: “May cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.”

Your doctor or nurse will have discussed side effects of your painkillers with you.

Strong painkillers (or opioids) affect each person in a different way. They can make some people drowsy and reactions can be slower than usual. This may be worse if you take other medicines that cause drowsiness or if you drink alcohol. If you are someone who drives you may be wondering if it is safe for you to drive. The following information will help you to decide.

• You must not drive if you feel sleepy
• You must not drive after drinking alcohol or taking strong drugs which have not been prescribed or recommended by your doctor for example, cannabis.
• You must not drive if you start taking medication that cause sleepiness, either prescribed by your doctor or bought from the chemist for example, hay fever medicine.
• You must not drive on days where you have had to take extra (breakthrough or rescue) doses of a strong painkiller.