If you need to book a medication review we can arrange a telephone consultation with a trained pharmacist. These appointments are available over the weekend.
We prefer to use the NHS Electronic Prescription Service to send prescriptions electronically to a local pharmacy (or dispensing appliance contractor) nominated by patients. This makes prescribing and dispensing more efficient and convenient for patients, the practice and pharmacists.
Our aim is to process 100% of prescriptions this way, so that patients do not have to attend the surgery, wherever possible. To help us:
- nominate a local pharmacy or a dispensing appliance contractor from which you would like to get your prescriptions from by advising our reception staff
- start using online services for ordering (and cancelling) repeat prescriptions
If you have nominated a dispenser and ordered your requirements online, you should no longer have to collect a paper repeat prescription from the surgery. Instead, if the repeat prescription is pre-authorised, you can go to the nominated pharmacy (or dispensing appliance contractor) to pick up your medicines or medical appliances. Please allow the dispenser sufficient time to download the prescription order and prepare your items, but your waiting time will be largely down to the capacity of pharmacists on the day.
We routinely issue prescriptions for up to two months’ supply (56 days) of medication, with a few exceptions three-monthly (e.g. HRT) and six-monthly (e.g. the contraceptive pill).
Please note that we do not accept telephone requests for repeat prescriptions, so these need to be made online, by making a request in person at the practice reception or by post.
In some circumstances, a repeat prescription request will need to be authorised by a GP before a pharmacist can dispense, for example if this relates to a controlled drug or the prescription period has expired.
For routine prescriptions, please allow 4 working days for appropriate safety checks, generating the prescription, signing and transferring this to the dispenser. Last minute requests place unhelpful demands on a stretched system.
It is worth bearing in mind the following examples which can cause delays or refusals:
- the repeat ordering system is NOT for unique, one-off or non-repeat items;
- if you have not requested a repeat item for over 18 months, it may have been removed automatically from the system
- if you have over-run your review date (displayed beneath each medication on the reordering slip), your GP may require you to attend a review before issuing further repeat medications for your own safety (see below);
- if we do not have up-to-date contact details (especially email and phone), we may be unable to alert you to any problems.
Over-the-counter medication, changes to prescribing
Did you know in 2017-2018 we spent £3.2 million on prescribing over-the-counter medicines in the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale & Craven area?
And across England, in the year prior to June 2017, the NHS spent approximately £569 million on prescriptions for medicines which can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy and other outlets such as supermarkets.
To help ensure we make the best use of our budget we have now implemented national guidance (issued by NHS England) and are asking GPs not to routinely prescribe over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. Instead we are asking local people to buy over-the-counter medicines from their local pharmacy or supermarket.
Please help the NHS to use the resources sensibly. You can find more information here.
Travelling Aboard
This policy outlines the procedure for patients travelling abroad for short and long periods of time and those permanently leaving the UK.
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 or are permanently leaving the UK, 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.
Ilkley & Wharfedale Medical Practice Policy
Travelling out of the country for less than 3 months
For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes) for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so. Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns. 1 months supply only will be issued for drugs normally available over the counter, such as paracetamol.
Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months
Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so).
They will also be removed from our patient list. We will be pleased to re-register patients on their return to residence in the UK and can reassure patients that their electronic notes are kept on file for reference on your return.
Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.
Prescriptions for medicines in case of illness while abroad
GPs will only prescribe NHS prescriptions in this case for exacerbation of pre-existing illnesses. e.g. antibiotics for patients who have frequent infections secondary to an underlying lung condition.
GPs may provide private prescriptions if it is clinically appropriate and they can be self-administered safely without medical assessment while abroad. These prescriptions are not free.
Patients should be aware that some drugs commonly prescribed in the UK may be illegal in certain countries and you should check with that countries embassy before you travel.
See NHS facts of travel abroad
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1755.aspx?CategoryID=73&SubCategoryID=105
https://www.wessexlmcs.com/patientstravellingabroadprescriptionsadvice