CURRENT PRESCRIPTION ADVICE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The current guidance around prescriptions is as follows:
Please request repeat prescriptions/collect medications as you have been doing previously with the following exceptions:
- If you would normally drop in a paper repeat prescription request at the Surgery, please email the request instead to dispensary.saxmundhamhealth@nhs.net Please include your name, date of birth, address and details of all the medication that you are requesting.
- If you are a shielding, dispensing patient, then your medication will be delivered to you. If you are in this category and are running out of medication then please either call the surgey or email dispensary to advise us.
- If you need to pay for your prescriptions, then you will need to attend the surgey to process the payment
- If you are exempt from paying for your prescriptions and need to provide proof or if you need to sign for this, then you will need to attend the surgery
- Controlled drugs, cytotoxic drugs (Methotrexate, for example) and those requiring refrigeration will still need to be collected in person, whether you are over 60 or not
This is to protect you from any risk of contamination and to protect our staff as well. Please wash your hands before attending and, if you are self-isolating with any symptoms, then you must stay at home.
Please only come to the surgery if it is necessary to do so.
Thank you.
Repeat Prescriptions
Order your prescription online
We are open from 8.00am to 6.30pm every weekday and have a full time Dispensary which will issue medication to those who live more than one mile away from a chemist.
Please note, as from April 1st 2019 Gabapentin and Pregabalin are now Controlled Drugs and we will only prescribe a 28 day supply. The prescription is also valid for only 28 days. Further information can be found on this leaflet about Gabapentin and Pregabalin.
Please note the following order/collection times:
- Monday collection Friday the same week
- Tuesday collection Monday the following week
- Wednesday collection Tuesday the following week
- Thursday collection Wednesday the following week
- Friday collection Thursday the following week
- Saturday collection the following Friday
- Sunday collection the following Friday
Any items that require clinical input may take longer.
Pharmacy2U
Please see information regarding Pharmacy2U released by the National Pharmacy Association.
Prescription charges increased on 1st April 2021. Please see our prescriptions fees page for details.
Please note, as from April 1st 2019 Gabapentin and Pregabalin are now Controlled Drugs and we will only prescribe a 28 day supply. The prescription is also valid for only 28 days.
Dispensary
The Practice has a Dispensary to enable us to supply medication to patients who live more than a mile away for a chemist. For this reason, certain locations in Saxmundham cannot be supplied with medication by the Practice. Non-dispensing patients will need to collect their prescription from the Dispensary and take them to the chemist of their choice.
All repeat prescriptions are dealt with by our dispensers. Patients are required to give 48 working hours for these to be prepared. This allows us time to order the medication and to meet safety legislation. Please note that we are not open on Saturdays or Sundays.
Prescriptions may be ordered in person, in writing, using the email address dispensary.saxmundhamhealth@nhs.net, or using our online facilities via SystmOne/NHS App.
If you need advice on your prescribed medication such as side effects or drug interactions, you should contact Dispensary in person or by telephone. If we cannot help we can speak to your doctor who can provide you with the necessary information.
If you have any unused or out-of-date medication you should return it to us and we will dispose of it safely. To contact Dispensary please call 01728 602022 (between 8.00am and 6.30pm).
Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
EPS enables prescribers - such as GPs and Nurse Practitioners - to send prescriptions electronically to a dispenser (such as a pharmacy) of the patient's choice. This makes the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff. More info below or on the EPS website.
Start using EPS
Either complete our online nomination form, a nomination slip available from our reception or at any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS. Nomination means you choose a place for your GP Practice to electronically send your prescription to. You don't need a computer to use EPS. You can choose up to one of each of the following:
- a pharmacy
- a dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one)
You can change your nomination or cancel it and return to paper prescriptions at any point. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, complete our online nomination form or present at our Reception desk. Inform us before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.
EPS is reliable, secure and confidential. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.
Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser.
Dispensers will also see all the items on your reorder slip if you are on repeat prescriptions.
Please see information released by the National Pharmacy Association regarding Pharmacy2U.
Benefits
If you collect repeat prescriptions you will not have to visit your GP practice just to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send the prescription electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.
The prescription is an electronic message so there is no paper prescription to lose.
You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.
If the prescription needs to be cancelled the GP can electronically cancel and issue a new prescription without you having to return to the practice – saving you extra trips.
You can get all these benefits if you:
- have a stable condition
- don't want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription
- collect your medicines from the same place most of the time
- use a prescription collection service now
You will not get as many benefits, if you:
- don't get prescriptions very often or
- pick up your medicines from different places
- request controlled drugs
Patient PPI advice
Please see this Patient Advice - long term use of Proton Pump Inhibitors document for further informaiton.
