Updated 25/08/2008
Click
here to see instructions about ordering repeat prescriptions via e-mail
Remember that information sent over the Internet
is not confidential. You may prefer to make your request using the official
request slip (recommended) sent in by post or handed in: requests slips with us by 11am ready
by 5pm same day. Alternatively, requests can be made by telephone but this takes
longer as your written records are required to check details. Emailed requests may take 48 hours if I am on leave.
Repeat
prescription systems enable you to collect a set number of prescriptions without
having to see your doctor. The Government is investigating entrusting pharmacists
with repeat prescription control. You will then only need to
one slip from us to cover the repeats. In the meantime:
Repeat prescription systems have to be safe
and approved by the health authority
 | Your doctor has to agree that issue of repeated items is appropriate. |
| The item must be suitable for issue without your health being checked |
| The quantity on the prescription is a balance of convenience for you
against wasting NHS resources if your medication has to be changed for any
reason. The Primary Care Trust (PCT), the successor to the Health Authority,
advises that this balance is 28 days supply. Items returned to the
pharmacy have to be destroyed as they could have been tampered with, even if
seals look intact. |
| The number of repeat items that can be issued has to be agreed by your
doctor when the repeat is set up. The request slip tells you how many more
repeats you can pick up. Look against each item as they may be different. |
| Occasionally there are also controls on the gap that has to pass before
the item can be issued again. |
| Once the last agreed repeat is issued, the wording on the slip
changes to remind you that you must see your doctor before that item runs out as it can
only be reauthorised for repeat issue after review. You should make your appointment for
review well in advance in order to reduce the pressure on more urgent
appointments. We try and highlight this message in yellow as an extra
reminder. |
| This message means that all authorised repeats have been issued and
you
must be seen by your doctor before you can receive your next prescription.
Seeing the nurse practitioner is not sufficient; you must see your doctor. |
The safest method of requesting repeat medication is by using the re-order
request slip, either handing it over the counter, sending it in by post or
faxing it. This is also the quickest method as your written records do not need
to be located. Requests received by 11am are ready for collection at 5pm (on weekdays).
Request repeat prescriptions by email.
Remember that information sent
over the Internet is not confidential.
Please check
the messages on your request slip as the item cannot be issued if you need to
see your doctor first.
Please include all the information that is on the slip so that the item can be safely selected. The strength is particularly important as errors have occurred after a dose has been changed but the computer update has not taken place.
Emailed requests may take 48 hours to process if I am away.
For security reasons the email address is no longer shown as a hyperlink. Substitute the appropriate punctuation for the bracketed word.
This is the address for email repeat prescription requests:
MINSTER (dot character) PRACTICE (at sign) NHS (dot character) NET
The email address is written in this way to reduce automated spam mail but you can see what to enter as the address.
It is very important that you use this e-mail address or processing may be
seriously delayed.
Please note that if your email request contains a virus, or a possible virus, the whole message will
be automatically deleted by the NHS virus checking system & we may not know that this
has happened. It is advisable to check by phone that your prescription is ready for collection.
Boots online service
In 2004, Boots extended its online service to NHS & private prescriptions plus sale & delivery of pharmacy only "over the counter" medicines.
For further details, see http://www.boots.com/microsites/microsite_info_template.jsp?contentId=2798
The Minster Practice, Lichfield
