Urgent Repeat Prescription Request Policy
Last Updated: Friday, 11 August 2023Reviewed: January 2023
Next Review: January 2025
Due to an increasing number of requests for repeat prescriptions to be issued urgently, we have had to review how we handle these requests in order to provide safe and consistent service to all our patients. Requests for prescriptions outside the normal prescription protocol impacts significantly on both doctor and administration staff time.
If you ask for an urgent repeat prescription, you will need to give the reason for your request. You may also be required to contact the police, in some cases, if the medication has been lost and it is a controlled drug and also provide a crime number.
The majority of hospital prescriptions are non-urgent and will also be processed through the normal prescription process.
Many medications can safely be missed for a few days. We will not issue urgent prescriptions for items that can be bought over the counter or for non-essential medication and you may be informed that your medication will be processed following the normal repeat prescription process. If your medication cannot be missed, the item will be issued as required. You must have a nominated pharmacy so that your prescription can be sent electronically.
Please make sure you request any medication before you run out: prescriptions take three working days to process – scripts handed in on Friday may not be ready until Tuesday. The practice can now electronically send prescriptions direct to a pharmacy of your choice. Contact your preferred pharmacy to request this. Each time you request a repeat script, your script will be electronically sent to your nominated pharmacy, ready for you to pick up or even delivered (if available). You can also order your repeat prescription on-line, any time day or night, if you register for our on-line service. Please note that Electronic Prescriptions still require three working days to be processed.
Medications that will not be issued urgently [not an exhaustive list]
- Anything that can be purchased over the counter e.g. aspirin, paracetamol, emollients / moisturisers, ibuprofen, low dose Co-Codamol, Adcal, Vitamins e.g. B12, folic acid, vitamin D
- Statins
- Erectile dysfunction drugs
- Thyroxine
- PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors)
Controlled Drugs and Other Drugs of Potential Abuse which, if lost or stolen may require a police crime reference number
- Benzodiazepines e.g. Temazepam, Diazepam, Lorazepam etc
- Opiates e.g. Tramadol, Zapain (Co-Codamol 30-500), Oxynorm, Morphine, Gabapentin etc
- Z drugs e.g. Zopiclone, Zolpidem, Zalepon etc
Urgent Request Form
If, after reading the policy above, you still feel you need to make an Urgent Repeat Prescription Request, you will need to visit Chapel Lane Surgery or The Hollies Family Surgery in person and fill in our urgent request form. (We will not accept urgent requests by phone or email). A copy of this form will be put on your medical records. Repeated inappropriate requests may result in future requests being declined and then treated as routine (available within 3 working days).