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How do I
Request a Repeat Prescription?
Repeat medication is issued in quantities
required monthly.
We would ask you to give us 2 working days notice to process your
request.
Please tick the items you require on the tear off slip. (Any unmarked items will
not be issued).
Please do not ask the receptionists to accept prescription requests over the
telephone as this could result in mistakes.
You are welcome to send your request with a stamped self addressed envelope and
we will willingly send your prescription to you. Alternatively, if the surgery
is closed, you can put the request through the letter box.
If you would like us to send your prescription to one of the local pharmacies,
please indicate this on the form and we will do this for you.
28 day
Prescribing
Nationally, it has been estimated that about 3% of the total
drug spend is currently being wasted (£155m based on total drug spend in the
financial year of 2000).
The Department of Health state that “A 28 day repeat prescribing interval is
recognised by the NHS as making the best possible balance between patient
convenience, good medical practice and minimal drug wastage”.
How will 28 day prescribing work?
If you are being prescribed a “repeat medicine” your doctor will now start to
prescribe enough of each medicine to last you for 28 days. For example, if you
are taking 2 tablets a day you will receive 56 tablets, 3 tablets a day 84
tablets, 4 tablets a day 112 tablets etc. This will mean that you will be able
to order all of your medicines on the same day each month. There are some drugs
which are packaged in 3 monthly amounts and will continue to be dispensed in
these packs e.g contraceptive pills and HRT. We will always try to be flexible
for holiday requirements.
What are the benefits of 28 day prescribing?
- Patients will always start (and finish), their container
of medicine on the same day of the week. This will reduce the number of
“emergency requests” from patients running out of medicine during a weekend.
- Companies already manufacture a large number of medicines
in 28 day patient calendar packs. These packs have patient information
leaflets inside and ideally they should not be broken into.
- The government is encouraging companies to manufacture
more medicines in these type of packs. It can allow you to check or monitor
that you have taken your medication.
- It will reduce the amount of medicine which is currently
wasted when medicines are stopped or changed. It will also reduce the amount
which is wasted when partly filled containers are thrown away.
- It will be easier for the doctor to review all of the
repeat medicines each patient is taking and also easier for the doctor to
see if a patient is not taking any of their medicines.
- It will reduce the number of mistakes made by elderly
patients when they take their medicine, as patients will be less likely to
have multiple partly filled containers of medicine at home.
- Most patients should only visit the dispensary once a
month to collect their “repeat medicines”. Presently a large number of
patients make several visits a month to the surgery because their medicines
run out at different times.
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