It is easier and quicker to manage appointments and request repeat prescriptions via our online service. Simply log in and select an option.
Please allow 48 hours at Peartree and 72 hours at West Horndon for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.
Unfortunately, we have a policy that requires patients to submit their requests or ask a family member or carer to do so. We unfortunately do not accept prescription requests from Pharmacies. This is to reduce medicine wastage.
NHS App
Download the NHS App, or open the NHS website in a web browser, to set up and log in to your NHS account. Owned and run by the NHS, your NHS account is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services online, including appointments, prescriptions and health record.
Your Repeat Medication
If you need regular medication and your doctor does not need to see you every time, you will be issued with ‘repeat prescription’. When you collect a prescription you will see that it is perforated down the centre. The left-hand side is the actual prescription.The right-hand side (re-order slip) shows a list of medicines that you can request without booking an appointment to see a doctor. Please tear off this section (and keep it) before handing the prescription to the chemist for dispensing.
Dispensing
The practice dispenses medicines for patients living in rural areas. Prescriptions can be picked up as follows:
- Peartree Surgery – 09:30 to 18:30 (Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30) – Dispensing takes telephone queries between 11.00am and 12pm, and between 4.00pm to 4.30pm in the afternoon. Due to Covid, please write your prescription query and put it in the white prescription box at the entrance of the surgery. If you are unable to do this then please contact the surgery and speak to reception.
- West Horndon – 09:00-13.00 and 14:00 – 18:00 (Thursday 09.00 – 12.00). You can speak to dispensary for telephone queries between 11.00am to 12.00pm (Monday to Friday), and 3.00pm to 4.00pm (Mon to Friday, excluding Thursday).
If you are registered with an online pharmacy, please be aware that we will not be accepting requests from the pharmacy. All requests have to be made directly by the patient prior to processing of their script. We are fully supported by medicines management due to previous wastage of medications and incorrect requests made by the pharmacy.
If you forget to request a repeat prescription
If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and thus run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your Pharmacy. Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, Pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine, without having to get a prescription from your GP.
If you have run out of important medication, telephone your usual Pharmacy to check that they offer this service; if they don’t, they may either direct you to another Pharmacy who does provide it, or ask you to phone 111 where you can request details of a local Pharmacy that provides the service.
You must then take with you to the relevant Pharmacy, proof of both your identification and of your medication (for example, your repeat prescription list or the empty box which should have your details printed on it). Please note that controlled drugs and antibiotics are not provided through this service, you will need to ring 111 for these.
If you receive stoma products from your Pharmacy or other supplier and/or receive items such as continence products, please ensure you have sufficient supplies as you may encounter difficulties in obtaining these over Bank Holidays, or when the Surgery is closed.
Help with NHS Costs
If you need help with NHS costs or need to find out if you can get free prescriptions please click the button below for further information.
How to order your medication
By post
You can post your prescription slip or written request to us at the Practice. You must include a stamped addressed envelope for return by post if you will not be able to pick up your prescription from the Surgery (please allow extra time for any possible delays with the postal service).
Electronic prescriptions
We are now able to do Electronic prescriptions. If you are interested please nominate the pharmacist of your choice when you put in a repeat script. If you have any queries please contact the dispensers at your surgery for more information.
In person
You can order in person by returning the right-hand half of a previous prescription for the required medications, or by submitting a handwritten request.
Telephone
We do not accept requests for repeat prescriptions by telephone. This prevents dangerous errors being made and leaves the telephone lines free for urgent matters.
Additional information
Hospital and Community Requests
When you are discharged from Hospital you should normally receive seven days supply of medication.
On receipt of your discharge medication, which will be issued to you by the Hospital, please contact the Surgery to provide them with this information before your supply of medication has run out.
Hospital requests for change of medication will be checked by a prescribing clinician first, and if necessary a prescribing clinician will provide you with a prescription on request.
Medication reviews
Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a Doctor at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip. Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions. Medication reviews are required once a year, however repeat dispensing is required every 6 months. Please speak to reception or dispensing for more details.
Non-repeat items (acute requests)
Non-repeat prescriptions, known as ‘acute’ prescriptions are medicines that have been issued by the Doctor but not added to your repeat prescription records. This is normally a new medication issued for a trial period, and may require a review visit with your Doctor prior to the medication being added onto your repeat prescription records.
Some medications are recorded as acute as they require to be closely monitored by the Doctor. Examples include many anti-depressants, drugs of potential abuse or where the prescribing is subject to legal or clinical restrictions or special criteria. If this is the case with your medicine, you may not always be issued with a repeat prescription until you have consulted with your Doctor again.
Online Pharmacies
If you are registered with an online pharmacy, please be aware that we will not be accepting requests from the pharmacy. All requests have to be made directly by the patient prior to processing of their script. We are fully supported by medicines management due to previous wastage of medications and incorrect requests made by the pharmacy.