FAQ about Medications

Your prescription needs to be reviewed and authorised before it can be sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy. Please allow up to 3 working days for repeat prescriptions. If your prescription has been sent but the pharmacy cannot find it, please contact the pharmacy first so they can check their system.

You can change your nominated pharmacy through the NHS App or by asking your GP surgery or pharmacy. If you have already requested a prescription, changing your nominated pharmacy may not transfer that prescription to the new pharmacy.

The hospital should provide information about any medicines that have been started, stopped or changed and share this with your GP.We will update your medication list with any permanent changes, contact you if any queries and advise to book an appointment if necessary.

Please order your repeat medication at least 3 working days before you run out. If you have already run out or are likely to do so before your prescription is ready, contact the surgery as soon as possible. If the surgery is closed and you need medication urgently, contact NHS 111.

Make sure you have enough medication for your trip and order it well in advance providing your holiday dates with the request. For any early issues of a controlled drug we will require proof of travel and travel dates. If travelling abroad, check whether your medication has any restrictions in your destination country, particularly if it is a controlled medicine.

Please order controlled medicines using the usual prescription ordering process advised by the surgery. These medicines have additional legal requirements, so please allow enough time for your prescription to be processed. These can only be issued 3 working days before they are due and for a 28 day supply only.

Please return unwanted or out-of-date medicines to your local community pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not put medicines in your household bin or flush them down the toilet. Please also tell the surgery if you are no longer taking a medicine so your medication list can be updated.

Your community pharmacist can help with questions about how to take your medicine, side effects and interactions. Contact the GP surgery for questions about your prescription, medication reviews or changes to your regular medicines. For medication changes made by a hospital, you may need to contact the hospital team.

Please allow around 3 working days for your prescription to be processed and prepared by the pharmacy. Your pharmacy may also need to order your medication, which can take additional time. Please order repeat medication in good time and do not wait until you are nearly out.

Your pharmacy may be able to order the medication from its suppliers, so please speak to them first. If there is a wider supply problem, the pharmacist may contact the surgery to discuss a suitable alternative.Please do not request a new prescription simply because your pharmacy temporarily has no stock.

Your medicine may sometimes look different or come from a different manufacturer. This does not necessarily mean that the medicine itself has changed. Many medicines are available from different manufacturers and contain the same active ingredient. If you are unsure whether you have received the correct medicine, please check with your pharmacist before taking it.