PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS

The processing of prescription requests is now centralised to one site – Pool Health Centre, in order to manage the demand and workflow for our patients in an efficient and timely manner.

We understand that some patients opt to collect their prescription from their preferred surgery and would encourage those patients to nominate a pharmacy of their choice to enable prescriptions to be sent electronically (EPS), without the need of paper printing and couriering it to its destination.  This saves considerable time for the patient and surgery, minimising any delay in the prescription being ready.  We aim to process your prescription within 3 full working days, however further time may need to be allowed if you do not nominate a pharmacy, as the prescription needs to be couriered from Pool to your chosen surgery for collection.

Please note that due to current pressure of work we have had to change the turnaround time for repeat prescriptions. Please ensure you request your prescription on time as our Prescription team cannot take 'urgent' requests.

Repeat Prescriptions requests will take three working days to process. We have no control over how long the pharmacy takes to dispense your prescription.

Pharmacies open til late- 

Dispensing patients will remain unchanged and their routine requests will be managed by the Dispensing team at Homecroft.

We strive on providing an efficient service to our patients and would ask that all repeat prescription requests are requested in good time, preferably 1week in advance to avoid any delay in your prescription being processed.

Thank you for your help and co-operation

Prescription requests information for patients

Repeat Prescriptions

Patients approved by their clinician for repeat prescriptions have a number of options to choose from when re-ordering medication:

Online - by following the link at the top of this page and completing a simple registration or sign in (for current users).

In Person - drop your repeat slip in at reception with the required items clearly marked.

By Post - send it to us with a stamped addressed envelope if you want us to post it back to you.

By Email -  please send your name, DOB and items required to carntocoast@nhs.net

In the majority of cases we can now send your prescription electronically to your chosen pharmacy.  Please let us know if you do not wish us to do this. 

Down to your last week's supply of medication? - order it now to give us and your chosen pharmacy plenty of time to get it ready for you.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to speak to or see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you contact the surgery to book a telephone consultation or an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Prescription requests- information for patients

28-Day Prescriptions – Advice for Patients 

From time to time Carn to Coast Health Centres receives requests from patients to give out prescriptions for more than one month’s medication. NHS guidelines promote 28 day prescriptions. This is  largely to reduce waste from unused medication as medicines which have been prescribed cannot be re-used if the healthcare needs of a patient change. It also reduces the dangers associated with excess drugs in the home. Our local Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS Kernow) have stated that they ‘believe 28 day prescribing is the best balance between patient convenience, good medical practice and minimal drug wastage in a time of scarce NHS resources’. 

In recognition of the advice received by the Practice, our clinicians are strongly encouraged to avoid issuing longer prescriptions and to adhere strictly, wherever practicable, to the Carn to Coast Health Centres policy of routinely issuing prescriptions to patients for 28 days’ supply of repeat medications. This gives a regular routine for patients and allows for ordering in good time. It is convenient if issues of different medications regularly needed can all be brought into line and issued together so as to reduce the number of requests and achieve a more co-ordinated approach to care. (We acknowledge that there are reasonable exceptions where a patient plans to be away from home on holiday or on business, and to cover Christmas and other Bank Holidays.) 

The above policy need not cause inconvenience to the patient. Prescriptions can be sent automatically to the patient’s nominated pharmacy of choice as part of the electronic prescription service (EPS). We are also promoting ‘electronic repeat dispensing’ (ERD), whereby the surgery authorises the pharmacy to dispense on multiple occasions. This means that instead of coming back to the surgery every time for a repeat prescription, the patient can make their request directly to the pharmacy. (Patients can still request early issue from the pharmacy for the exceptional circumstances already mentioned above.) Please talk to our prescriptions team if you wish to set up EPS or discuss ERD. 

If you are eligible to pay for prescription charges then it may be worth you applying for a prepayment certificate. This costs £104 per year payable in monthly instalments and then all prescriptions are exempt of charges for the year. This compares to £105.60 for one medication per month.  https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/prescription-prepayment-certificates

December 2018

Dispensary at Homecroft Surgery

We can dispense medication for patients registered with us who live at least one mile from the surgery.  Our dispensary at Homecroft Surgery is open during weekday surgery hours for new and repeat prescriptions.  Please see information on our 'repeat prescriptions' page on how to request a repeat of your medication.

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.