Ordering repeat prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions are medications which appear on the reverse of your prescription which your doctor would like you to continue on a regular basis.
The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:
- using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
- using the GP online system: SystmOnline
- using Patchs online service
- email kynance.practice@nhs.net
These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.
We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone or email.
Collecting your prescription
You can usually collect your prescription 2 working days after you have ordered it.
Please note, if your prescription request is not on your repeat prescription your request will take longer to process and the doctor may wish to speak with you. Delays may also occur if your medication request is different from what your doctor has prescribed for you. Please respect our staff, as it is your responsibility to ensure that your repeat prescription request is ordered in plenty of time.
You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.
The prescription will be sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy. If you don’t have one, we can send you an SMS with your the barcode to pick up your medicine from any pharmacy registered for NHS ETP. This means that you do not have to come to the surgery to collect your prescription.
You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:
- on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
- at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions
Emergency prescription
Emergency prescription requests are requests for medication which you need within 24 hours to prevent you becoming severely unwell. Emergency medications include: epileptic medication, insulin, inhalers for lung conditions, emergency contraception and EpiPens for anaphylaxis.
Emergency prescription requests are not requests for medication which have been ordered late. You should allow 2 working days for routine repeat prescription requests. Please respect our staff, as it is your responsibility to ensure that your repeat prescription request is ordered in plenty of time.
Questions about your prescription
If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on medicines you can buy without a prescription.
The NHS website has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.
If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription:
- use Patchs online service
Medication reviews
If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.
Prescription charges
Find out more about prescription charges.
What to do with old medicines
Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.
About pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff.
Over the counter
Many excellent and important medicines are available over the counter (OTC) at pharmacies. They do not not need to be prescribed by a doctor and indeed you can save yourself a lot of money as many are cheaper than the prescription charge. Pharmacists are highly trained in giving sensible advice about self-help for minor illness, please ask them.
Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns.
Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community.
The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need. Please help the NHS to use resources sensibly.
This applies to treatments for these conditions:
| Acute sore throat | Minor burns and scalds | Conjunctivitis |
| Mild cystitis | Coughs, colds and nasal congestion | Mild dry skin |
| Cradle cap | Mild irritant dermatitis | Dandruff |
| Mild to moderate hay fever | Diarrhoea (adults) | Dry eyes / sore tired eyes |
| Mouth ulcers | Earwax | Nappy rash |
| Excessive sweating | Infant colic | Sunburn |
| Infrequent cold sores of the lip | Sun protection | Infrequent constipation |
| Teething / mild toothache | Infrequent migraine | Threadworms |
| Insect bites and stings | Travel sickness | Mild acne |
| Warts and verrucae | Hemorrhoids | Oral thrush |
| Head lice | Prevention of tooth decay | Indigestion and heartburn |
| Ringworm / athletes foot | Minor pain, discomfort and fever (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain) |
Your home medicine cupboard
It is well worth keeping a small stock of useful medicines at home in your (locked) first aid cupboard. For instance, pain killers (analgesics) such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or aspirin (children under 16 and people with asthma should not take aspirin), or Ibuprofen syrups for children, mild laxatives, anti-diarrhoeal medicines, Indigestion remedy (for example, antacids) travel sickness tablets, sunscreen (SPF15 or higher) and sunburn treatment (for example, calamine).
Private prescriptions
Private prescriptions are medication which your private Doctor has recommended for you on a private prescription. A private prescription is not written on an official NHS prescription and so is not paid for by the NHS. The cost of a private prescription is met wholly by the patient and is dictated by the cost of the medicine plus the pharmacists charge for supplying it.
A prescription is a legal document for which the doctor, who has issued and signed it, is responsible for. Therefore, a NHS doctor cannot convert a private prescription to an NHS prescription. A doctor you see privately can’t issue an NHS prescription.
A GP in the surgery at which you are registered can only provide a private prescription if the drug is not available on the NHS.
Hospital outpatient prescriptions
These are commonly given as requests to the GP to prescribe, though sometimes the prescription will be intended for dispensing at the hospital pharmacy, especially if the need is urgent or the drugs are for hospital supply only.
Medications abroad
Taking your medication abroad may require you to take a letter of authorisation with you, even in Europe. Every country has its own rules and it can be complex. Make sure you check in good time.