Helping you live well
Tel: 01237 476363
Prescriptions
Information Regarding Prescription Requests
Please allow THREE working days for your repeat medication request to be processed by the practice, working days do not include weekends or Bank Holidays.
Please note: the practice cannot advise on waiting times at the community pharmacy.
Requests for items not on repeat should be put writing to your usual GP with a clear reason as to why you need to continue it. Your usual GP will then consider the request and if it is suitable to add to your repeat prescription.
To avoid the risk of error, we are unable to accept repeat prescription requests over the telephone.
Our reception team will ask you to place any repeat request in writing.
We do not respond via phone or text when a prescription request has been issued or declined.
Same Day Prescription Requests
Our Clinicians have requested that we do not disturb them in clinic for prescriptions that are requested for on the day. This could increase the risk of a serious error being made.
You can request your medication two weeks in advance.
Urgent requests may not be signed until the end of surgery at the earliest.
Ways to order your prescriptions
You can self-register for the NHS App online (which connects to practice online services) via the link above, where you can see your available medicines, request a new repeat prescription and choose a pharmacy for your prescriptions to be sent to.
with SystmOnline. You will need to set up a personal account to be able to order repeat prescriptions online.
Prescription Box in reception
Using your prescription counterfoil (the perforated right hand side), or a written note you can mark the items you require, and then place your request in the wooden box inside the Practice entrance.
Over The Counter Medication
Our clinicians will not generally give you a prescription for over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns, even if you qualify for free prescriptions.
Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket. The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need. Please help the NHS to use resources sensibly.
Electronic repeat dispensing (batch prescriptions)
If you use the same medicines regularly, you or someone you care for may be able to benefit from electronic repeat prescriptions. This means you won't have to re-order or collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP practice every time you need more medicine.
Useful Information
NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC)
If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, an HRT PPC could save you money.
The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months, regardless of why they are prescribed.
If your HRT medicine is not covered, or you also get prescriptions for items other than HRT medicine, you may save more with a 3 or 12 month PPC that covers all NHS prescriptions -
Before buying an HRT PPC, check if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs using the eligibility checker -
Prescription Charges
Pharmacy First
Pharmacists can suggest treatments that do not need a prescription for a range of conditions.
Most pharmacies can also offer prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment. This is called Pharmacy First.
Clinical Pharmacy Team
Clinical pharmacy teams in General Practice include clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who work as part of the practice team to resolve day-to-day medicine issues and consult with patients directly.
This issues they can help with include:
• providing extra help to manage long-term conditions
• advice for those on multiple medications
• access to health checks.
• dealing with medication stock issues
• looking at medicine related information on clinic letters and discharge summaries from secondary care
Having a clinical pharmacy team in the surgery means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with complex conditions.
This helps our doctors manage the demands on their time.
The team also engage with the Torridge Health Primary Care Network pharmacists and technicians to provide a comprehensive service to patients within our locality.
Quality improvement and patient safety projects within the practice clinical pharmacy team
Quality improvement and patient safety surrounding prescribing is at the heart of the Clinical Pharmacy Team at Bideford Medical Centre. We support and deliver many national and local priorities in order to benefit patients’ healthcare.
Our current priorities include:
• Educating patients about the risks of dehydration and acute illness on certain medications which should be temporarily stopped.
• Structured Medication Reviews. We will be inviting patients to have a review with a pharmacist to help you get the best from your medication. We will check that your medicines are working for you and that you are not having any problems with them. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your medicines.
• Ensuring the prescribing and monitoring of high-risk, shared care medications are safe and accurate.
• Working with the local Integrated Care Board to improve the effective use of medicines and medicines safety, including switching to more cost effective medicines where appropriate.