Bedminster Family Practice - How to order your repeat medications from the doctors surgery

All prescription requests need to be ordered through the Patient Access link above. It is simple to use - just click on the items you require

If you are not set up for online access please contact us and we will arrange this for you

If you do not have computer access, we will accept prescription requests by telephone but only between 11am and 2pm

COVID-19 UPDATE: PLEASE ALLOW 5 WORKING DAYS FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTION TO BE PROCESSED

Please note that Boots Bedminster is closing on the 15 August. If this is your nominated pharmacy please let us know.

Repeat Prescriptions

You can request your repeat medication in a number of ways:

By submitting your request via the link at the top of this page
Via the Patient Access App
By handing your repeat slip (attached to paper prescriptions) in to any pharmacy
By popping the repeat slip into the locked Post Box on the wall of our foyer

Registering for Patient Access also gives you access to online appointment booking, ordering repeat prescriptions and access to some of your medical record.

The following link provides further information on how to order repeat prescriptions:

https://support.patientaccess.com/repeat-medication/request-repeat-medication

Some local pharmacies provide a home delivery service - please check with them

Emergency Medication

We are reviewing our emergency medication request process. Only medications that are listed below, and authorised by a GP will be issued on the same day.

Warfarin
Rivaroxaban
Dabigatran
Apixaban
Clobazam
Topiramate
Epilim (Sodium Valproate)
Phenytoin
Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
Gabapentin
Tegretol
Keppra (Levetiracetam)
Lacosamide
Pregabalin
All Inhalers
All insulin based medications
Clopidogrel
Edoxiban
Ticagrelor (anticoags)

Electronic Prescribing

We operate an electronic prescribing service whereby prescription requests are handled electronically, from the time the request is received straight through to the pharmacy. Instead of signing a paper prescription, GPs will sign it electronically and send it directly to your nominated pharmacy. Please contact us to set this up.

Check what medication you can take

Before you travel, find out if there are any restrictions on taking your medicine in and out of:

the UK
the country you're visiting

Some medicines available over the counter in the UK may be strictly regulated (controlled) in other countries.

For more information, see Can I take my medicine abroad? and What is a controlled medicine (drug)?

Further information:

Do you find your tablets confusing?

If you are on so many tablets that you often get in a muddle, or can't remember whether you have taken them or not, it is well worth paying a small amount of money and buying a dossette box from your local pharmacist. These are boxes with compartments. Tablets can be placed in each compartment, and each compartment is clearly marked to indicate which day, and which time of day those particular tablets should be taken. Each dossette box can be filled with a weeks supply of tablets.

You can do this yourself, or get a trusted friend or relative to do it for you.

If you feel you cannot do it yourself and have no-one to do it for you, then your pharmacy may agree to provide a pre-filled weekly dossette box for you.

Local Pharmacies can help with your medicines

Pharmacists can answer your questions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

All pharmacies provide the following services:

dispensing of NHS prescriptions
access to the repeat prescription service (with agreement from your GP)
an emergency supply of medicine (subject to the decision of the pharmacist)
non-prescription medicines like paracetamol
disposal of unwanted or out-of-date medicines
advice on treating minor health concerns and healthy living

Pharmacy technicians can help with things like:

inhaler technique
how to take a medicine safely
helping you understand the correct dose of a new medicine and how often you need to take it

Repeat prescriptions

If you're regularly prescribed the same medicine, your GP may offer a prescription that can be repeated several times.

You choose which pharmacy you would prefer to collect your prescriptions from and your GP will send your prescription there.

You'll then be able to collect your repeat medicines directly from the pharmacy you have chosen until your doctor needs to review your treatment. This means fewer trips to the GP just to get another prescription.

If you are using this service, you will need to contact your chosen pharmacy a few days before you run out of medicine to ask for a new prescription and find out when it will be ready.

As part of this service, the pharmacist will ask if you're having any problems or side effects with your prescription medicines and, where appropriate, they can discuss this with you and your GP.

(Extract from NHS website 12/02/19)

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

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

Prescription (per item): £9.15
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £105.90 - card or Direct Debit (10 monthly instalments of £10.40)
3-month: £29.65 - card payment

You can start your prepayment:

today
any date in the next month (ready for your next pharmacy visit)
any date in the past month (if you have a refund form from the pharmacist)

Your prepayment certificate will be posted to you. Pharmacies ask for this as evidence of prepayment.

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 0300 330 1341
General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

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

Prescribing Policy

medication7 We, as a practice, endeavour to prescribe appropriately for you. This means that we try to take into account the evidence that a drug is actually effective for its intended purpose. We are guided in this by a national and local formulary; we are reluctant to prescribe outside these guidelines.

Unfortunately in today's world, finance plays an important role; family doctors are obliged to consider the cost of medicines and we are under constant pressure to reduce this. For this reason you may on occasions be asked to change your tablets to a more economic version - rest assured this will only be done if we are satisfied that the alternative is as effective as your previous prescription.

If you require simple stock for your medicine cupboard such as painkillers for occasional use this should be purchased 'over the counter' from the pharmacy. Please don't ask us for this on prescription.

A huge amount of money is wasted on unused drugs; please help by only ordering what you need. Unused medication should not be discarded in ordinary waste disposal systems but returned to the pharmacist.

We regularly review our prescribing and may ask to speak to patients on regular medication at least once a year. Many conditions will require more frequent monitoring.

Please notify us of any known or suspected allergies or adverse reactions to medication.

Please note that Boots Bedminster is closing on the 15 August. If this is your nominated pharmacy please let us know.

We are reviewing our emergency medication request process. Only medications that are listed below, and authorised by a GP will be issued on the same day.