Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Patients on regular or long term medications may be issued with repeat prescriptions without seeing the doctor each time. A form listing these prescriptions accompanies each repeat prescription. You may re-order these by either:

Ticking the appropriate item (s) and returning this in person or by posting it back to the surgery.
Telephone 0191 300 9889 from 8.30am to 6.00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays. 7.30am to 6.00pm on Thursdays.
Online – To order a repeat prescription online, come and visit us and ask reception how to register for Patient Access or alternatively download the NHS app on your smartphone, this way no need to come into surgery.

Please allow 2 full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.

Non-repeat Prescriptions

Unfortunately, doctors are generally unable to issue prescriptions for medication which you have never had or which you have had but are not currently on your repeat medication list. Should you require medications in these situations, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor, unless the medicine has been initiated by another doctor in hospital, is intended for continuation and the surgery has been provided with information about this. In these circumstances, it is helpful if you can bring to the surgery the medicines box you already have, or any letters from the hospital with the medicines information, just in case the practice has not yet received this information.

Urgent Requests

At least 48 hours notice is required for repeat prescriptions. However, if the request is urgent, we will deal with it as soon as possible.

Advice About Medicines When Travelling

The traveller is responsible for finding out regulation of the countries they are visiting and the airlines there are travelling on regarding all medication. Your doctor will not have this information nor are they responsible for providing this. This applies to prescribed AND over-the-counter medications. Patients should do this well in advance: Local regulations (e.g. in Turkey, China and Singapore) may require them to get a licence for carriage of ANY personal medication. They may need a doctor’s letter and to get this translated by an authorised body for any medication to be carried.

Letters

Letters provided for travel are not part of the GP NHS service but your GP may be willing to provide this for a fee (check with reception) or if they are too busy may redirect to a private travel clinic.

The following are not available on an NHS prescription (private travel clinics can help with these):

Malaria prophylaxis
Vaccines for Japanese encephalitis, Tick-borne encephalitis, Yellow fever, Rabies (unless the person is at occupational risk e.g. bat handler or is having post exposure prophylaxis, in which case this is provided under the NHS).
Sunscreens (these are only prescribable on the NHS to patients with specific medical conditions e..g vitiligo, genetic disorders, radiotherapy, chronic or recurrent herpes simplex labialis”

Controlled Drugs

Within Europe Government advice is that a patient must be able to prove controlled medication belongs to them to travel into or out of the UK. This requires a letter outlining use and countersigned by ‘the person who prescribed the drugs’. If carrying more than 3 months’ supply, they will also need a Home Office licence:

www.gov.uk/travelling-controlled-drugs

Extra Supplies

For visit longer than 3 months the patient should be advised to register with a local practitioner. Check with the manufacturer that medicines required are available in the country being visited. Some medicines can be purchased without a prescription from pharmacies in some countries. They are entitled to an NHS Prescription to cover the time until they get to the destination and find an alternative supply of that medication abroad. This will never be for more than 3 months.

‘Just in case’ Medicines

GPs are not responsible for the prescribing of ‘just in case’ items for conditions which may arise while abroad or travelling. Travellers are advised to purchase medication they may need or if is a prescription only item this may be issued at the discretion of the doctor on a private prescription.