Prescriptions

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO A 3-5 DAY TURNAROUND ON PRESCRIPTIONS.

To order a repeat prescription you can either order online (via the link at the top of this page), through the NHS App, complete the paper repeat slip and post it in the box outside the dispensary, or post your repeat slip to us via Royal Mail.

You may also request repeat prescriptions in person at the dispensary.

The default supply period for all repeat medication is 28 days. 

We require at least 3-5 FULL WORKING DAYS to prepare your PAPER or electronic prescription. This excludes obtaining the supply of your medication and dispensing time which is subject to separate prescribing and safety standards.

These 3-5 FULL WORKING DAYS do however, not include bank holidays and weekends.  For example, if you submit your prescription on a Monday before 4pm it should now be ready on a Thursday.  If you submit it on a Friday evening it will not be collected until the Monday and therefore not ready until the Thursday.

You may no longer be able to request items which are not on your repeat list due to local health policy restrictions for items used occasionally and available to purchase over the counter at pharmacies, whether you are exempt or not from prescription charges.

We would also like to ask that you don’t come to collect your medication until we have advised you to do so.  We don’t want you to make unnecessary trips if we can help it.  

Thank you for your continued support and patience.

We encourage patients to order their medication online.  Please ask a member of staff how to register for SystmOnline or download the NHS App

Dispensary opening times: Monday to Friday 08.30 – 18:00.

Please note the Dispensary will be closed on the second Tuesday of each month from 13.00pm to 16.00pm for training purposes.  

The dispensary is very busy in the mornings so if you need to speak to a member of staff in the dispensary please call 01400 281220 (Option 2) any time after 10:00am.  

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to 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 book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

To check what help you can get with NHS prescriptions and health costs visit:

Get help with NHS prescriptions and health costs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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

From 1st May 2024. Prescription changes will be:

• £9.90 per single item charge.
• 3-month pre-payment certificate £32.05
• 12-month pre-payment certificate £114.50
• HRT pre-payment certificate £19.80

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in a three month period or more than 12 items in a 12 month period, you may find it cheaper to buy a Pre-Payment Certificate (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.

Repeat prescriptions? Only order what you need

Did you know that approximately 2.1 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Lincolnshire each year? We need your help to reduce this.

Why is this important?

Stay well

• Unused medicines go out of date and might not work as intended, meaning your care might be compromised
• Stockpiling medicines worsens drug shortages

Stay safe

• Stockpiles of medicines kept at home can be dangerous for children and pets
• Medicines are only prescribed for you, and it is not safe to share prescribed medicines with anyone else

Safe green

• When you dispose of medicines properly, by handing them in to your pharmacy, you are helping to make sure that waste medicines do not pollute our rivers and seas
• Only ordering what you need means that you are helping the environment because once medicines have left the pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else

https://lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/about-us/medicines-waste/

Lincolnshire ICB approved changes to third party ordering for some patients, this is where community pharmacies are ordering repeats automatically on behalf of patients without necessarily checking with the patients that they need all the drugs on the repeat list. This has resulted in patients across the county accumulating large stockpiles of drugs, and in some incidences taking medication on a regular basis which is only required for occasional use.

In addition to these safety concerns, such prescribing is extremely wasteful. It has been estimated that nationally £90m worth of unused medicines are retained in patient's homes.

The ICB has asked for help by asking practices to no longer accept these repeat requests for the majority of patients, and instead for the patient/ carer to request the repeat order themselves, directly from the GP Practice

For further information please click on the link below:

Patient Leaflet - Restrictions on third party ordering

Patients may be asked by pharmacies to sign up to their services. If you do it is important to understand the implications for dispensing patients – ie for patients receiving their medications from our dispensary.

Once you have signed up to any pharmacy service (community pharmacy or online pharmacy) you will not be able to change back to a GP dispensing doctors service without making an application to the ICB. The application to the ICB will only be considered under exceptional circumstances. So far ALL applications by patients to be returned to our GP dispensing service have been rejected.

If you currently use our dispensary DO NOT SIGN UP to any commercial pharmacy services unless you are sure you never wish to use our dispensary services again. The Government has determined that you will not be allowed to change your mind later.

We will happily provide services to all eligible patients, but choosing a commercial pharmacy service is sadly not something that we are able to revoke.

Every year, thousands of people — both adults and children — are harmed or killed by taking medication that wasn’t prescribed to them. Whether by accident, curiosity, or misunderstanding, taking someone else’s medicine can be deadly. It’s a growing problem in homes across the country, and it’s one we all have the power to prevent.

The Risks of Taking Someone Else’s Medication
Prescription medications are carefully tailored to an individual’s health needs, age, weight, and medical history. What works for one person may be dangerous — even fatal — for another. 

Taking someone else’s medicine can cause:
•    Severe allergic reactions
•    Dangerous interactions with other medications
•    Overdose and poisoning
•    Organ failure
•    Death

This isn’t just a concern for children. Adults are increasingly affected, often misusing medications for pain, anxiety, or sleep without understanding the consequences.

Keep Medications Safe & Secure

Help prevent accidents and misuse by following these safety tips:
•    Store medications out of reach and out of sight, ideally in a locked cabinet or box.
•    Never leave tablets or medicines loose in purses, drawers, or countertops.
•    Keep medication in original packaging with clear labels and instructions.
•    Dispose of unused or expired medication safely — many pharmacies offer free disposal services.
•    Talk openly with your family — especially teens and elderly relatives — about the dangers of sharing or taking medication that isn’t theirs.

What To Do If Someone Takes the Wrong Medication

If you suspect that someone has taken medication not prescribed to them:
1.    Stay calm but act quickly.
2.    Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E department if the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or acting erratically.
3.    Contact NHS 111 or visit  www.111.nhs.uk for guidance if the person is conscious and stable.
4.    Give all available details — the medication taken, how much, and when.

Don’t wait for symptoms to show — some effects can be delayed but still dangerous.

Pharmacies
Your local pharmacist can help with safe medication storage, disposal, and advice.

Medication Safety Starts With You

You can save a life just by locking the medicine cabinet, talking to your children, or helping a friend get support. 

The message is simple:
If it’s not prescribed for you, don’t take it. Ever.
Stay safe. Stay informed. Share the message.