PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

If you need to remain on a certain medication for some time, the doctor may add this to the repeat prescribing system. This enables you to request specific prescriptions without seeing the doctor each time.

For your safety and convenience, the system works as follows:

· Please ensure you have an up to date and correct repeat prescription slip (the list of current medications on the tear off slip on the right hand side of your prescription).

· Clearly indicate which medication you require by ticking the items on the slip, and leave in the box by reception. You do not have to order them all each time.

· Please allow 48 hours (2 working days) to process your prescription. This enables us to check, record, issue and sign the prescription. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not run out of medication before ordering your repeat prescription.

· Not all medications, such as the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy, will be put on the repeat prescribing system. Good medical practice states that once a patient is established on these medications you will always need to see a clinician for a check up every 3-6 months before another prescription is issued.

· For safety reasons, repeat requests will NOT be taken over the telephone.

· If you send a representative to collect your prescription, they may be asked for identification. Please do not send children under 16 years of age to collect your prescription.

· If you have any medications you no longer take or are out of date, take them to your pharmacy for disposal.

· Please do not hoard large quantities of medication, this is both dangerous and wasteful.

· Most medications will be issued for a two month period according to Department of Health recommendations, and are subject to review every 6-12 months when you will be asked to see a doctor or nurse. This is done to ensure that patients are on the appropriate medication and the correct dosage for a specified medical condition. It is also an opportunity to have a general health check.

Any patient who has seen a clinician privately, or at a private hospital must get their prescription from that hospital. IT CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED TO AN NHS SCRIPT.

This is for medico-legal reasons. The doctor who issues your prescription is responsible for your medical condition, Should an allergic reaction occur or an error be made, the issuing doctor is responsible. Once you have been on the medication and reviewed by the private clinician, and all is well, then as long as we have received written information from the doctor concerned, we will continue to supply the medication on the NHS. In exceptional circumstances, the medication may only be for issue in secondary care, and not supported by the PCT in primary care, in this case we could not transfer this to an NHS script.

Please do not embarrass the reception staff or waste the doctor's time by asking for a private script to be converted to NHS.