Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Prescriptions will now take up to FIVE WORKING DAYS from the day of receipt for processing.

Please order your repeat medication in plenty of time to enable us to dispense safely and in a timely manner to you. Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

You can request your repeat medication by indicating the items you require on the tear-off slip of your prescription, and posting it to us or handing it in at the practice reception or dispensary themselves.

Alternatively you may order by the following methods:

Online – If you are registered for our online services you can request a repeat prescription via the link at the top of this page. Allow 5 working days notice and let us know where you would like to collect your medicaiton
By Telephone – Call 01295 721884 at any time and you can leave a message with your name, date of birth, first line of your address and the items you wish to order please give at least 5 working days notice and let us know where you would like to collect your medication.

Dispensary

We have a dispensary on site at Bloxham and deliver twice daily to the surgery at Hook Norton.

The dispensary is open for the collection of your medication between 09:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. Please note we are closed from 13:00 – 14:00 to ensure that we have caught up with all the morning’s prescriptions. Our dispensers always endeavour to provide a speedy and efficient service so it helps them enormously to be able to do this if you can give them adequate notice of your needs.

Unfortunately, due to the pharmacy regulations, the practice is not permitted to dispense to patients who live within 1 mile of a pharmacy which means we cannot dispense to Bloxham residents. However, please let our dispensers know and we can arrange for your prescription to be collected by the pharmacy of your choice.

ADHD Medication prescribing in adults

We have recently had to reject several new requests for ADHD medication prescribing in adults. This letter is aimed at explaining the reasons for it.

What should be happening?

The NHS ADHD service is commissioned to assess, diagnose, start medication, titrate medication and provide post-diagnostic reviews.

Once a patient is stable, the ADHD specialist enters a ‘shared care agreement’ (SCA) with the GP for ongoing prescribing to take place whilst still leading the care of the patient.

SCA is a carefully crafted, well-established and pre-arranged agreement with defined responsibilities for both specialist and GP

What is the problem?

National guidance expects long term involvement of specialists in reviewing ADHD patients and their medical treatment, but this does not currently happen in Oxfordshire. This then leaves GPs in a difficult position if we agreed to prescribe medications that we are not trained or funded to monitor. It is for this reason the practice has taken the decision not to accept any new requests from specialists, be it NHS or private, to prescribe ADHD medications to adult patients. This is in keeping with our Local Medical Committee’s recommendation.

Please be advised we will not be able to make any exceptions to this decision.

Care of adults already receiving ADHD treatments remains under careful review.

What then?

Patients may be able to access the care they need outside of the NHS, for instance by seeking a referral to a private provider.

Oxford Health that provides the NHS Adult ADHD service in Oxfordshire is not taking new referrals. The only NHS option for adult ADHD assessment is through the” right to choose” provision. Should you choose to go down either of these routes though, any prescriptions for medication will have to be provided by the specialist themselves.

We recognise the distress this might cause ADHD sufferers but sadly GPs cannot be expected to take on additional medico-legal risk because of a lack of NHS specialist provision. If you wish to raise this issue, then you may want to contact the “planned care team” at BOB ICB, bobicb.plannedcare@nhs.net , and/or your MP

NHS Charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

Prescription (per item): £9.90
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £114.50
3-month PPC: £32.05

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
General Public – Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.

Order your repeat prescription

Prescribing Restrictions

Restrictions on the prescribing of over the counter medicines

Prescribing of common over the counter medicines such as those to treat hayfever, mild pain, mild indigestion and dry skin is now restricted in Oxfordshire and the wider NHS. This includes patients who do not pay for their prescriptions.
The cost of these medicines to you is much lower than to the NHS
Have a look online at a reputable retailer or in your local pharmacy or supermarket and you will be surprised at how cheaply these drugs can be purchased
Please help yourself by keeping a well-stocked medicine cupboard at home containing all off these simple home remedies

A list of medications that will NOT now be prescribed in normal circumstances is shown below:

Paracetamol unless more than 32 tablets per week are required for a chronic condition
Ibuprofen, unless more than 28 tablets per month are required on an ongoing basis for a chronic condition
Anti-inflammatory creams eg Voltarol, Ibuleve, Movelat unless required for a chronic condition that is not expected to improve
Antihistamine tablets or creams except where required on a continuous basis for chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic urticaria
Antacids eg Gaviscon unless needed regularly
Drops to soften wax or cleanse ear canals
Sodium cromoglycate eye drops for hayfever
Creams, ointments or suppositories for piles unless failure to respond to over the counter preparations containing steroid and local anaesthetic
Steroid creams in adults eg Hydrocortisone, Eumovate) except where they have proved ineffective or a larger quantity than 30g is required
Antifungal creams eg Canesten, Daktarin, Lamisil unless combination with steroid required
Aciclovir cream eg Zovirax
Bath and shower wash products
Moisturisers for occasional use on dry skin (patients with chronic skin conditions can still have these on prescription)
Vitamin D except for established osteopenia or osteoporosis
Antiseptic mouth washes eg Corsodyl
Oral nutritional supplements eg Complan, except in very limited circumstances

Pharmacy Services

Pharmacists can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains.

They can also give advice about medicines. This includes how to use your medicine, worries about side effects or any other questions you have.

If they cannot help you themselves, they can refer you to a GP or other health professional.

Treatment from a pharmacist

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.

Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:

impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
shingles (aged 18 years and over)

If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice and support decisions about self care treatment with over the counter medicines, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other health professional if needed. They will also update your GP health record, but your information will not be shared with anyone else.

Most pharmacies near you can provide prescription medicine for these conditions but contact them before visiting to check.