Prescriptions

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
• Fill out an admin query on e-Consult

We regret that we cannot accept repeat prescription requests over the phone because of the potential for error.

Repeat prescriptions require an annual medication review. You may be asked to consult with a clinician to ensure that your medication is safe and appropriate to continue to prescribe.

Medications that have not been requested within a 12 month period may be removed from your repeat prescription for safety purposes. If you notice an item missing, please contact us to arrange a medication review with one of our clinical pharmacists.

Please ensure you always have sufficient medication to last over the weekend and public holidays when the surgery is closed. Please note for routine prescriptions you must allow 5 working days.

Your nominated pharmacy may have arrangements to deliver your prescriptions for you if you are unable to get them yourself. Please check with them.

• Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Quinapril, Perindopril, Ramipril & Trandolapril (PDF)
• Allopurinol (PDF)
• Azathioprine (PDF)
• Carbimazole (PDF)
• Methotrexate (PDF)
• Sodium Valproate and Valproic Acid (PDF)
• Inhalers
• Amiodarone (PDF)
• Azithromycin (PDF)
• Levothyroxine (PDF)
• Lithium (PDF)
• Mycophenolate Mofetil (PDF)
• Warfarin (PDF)

Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. E.g Paracetamol and hayfever medications. 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.

For further information, please click here

Opening hours:

• Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm
• Saturday, 8am to 6pm
• Sunday, 8am to 5pm

Due to the increased volume of repeat medication we have to process each day, we are now asking for 5 working days notice prior to collection of prescriptions.

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.

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
• using the GP online system: SystmOnline

If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacist 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.

Go to Medicines A to Z (nhs.uk)

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.

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).

Take unwanted medicines to any pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not put them in your household bin. Please contact the Surgery for needle disposal and we will arrange collection

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists offer the following under the local pharmacy first scheme:

• Ear infections (2yrs – 17yrs)
• Throat infections (2yrs – 65yrs)
• UTI (female only 16yrs – 64yrs)
• Sinusitis (2yrs – 65yrs)
• Infected bites (2yrs+)
• Shingles (18yrs+)
• Impetigo (1yrs+)

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

Find a pharmacy (nhs.uk)

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.

We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening.

We do not however, prescribe Diazepam to patients wishing to use it for their fear of flying. Diazepam in the UK is a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug. Please see below for further information outlining the issues surrounding its use with regards to flying and why the surgery no longer prescribes such medications for this purpose.

• Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and react to the situation. This could have serious safety consequences for you and those around you.
• Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at increased risk of developing a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than 4 hours.
• Whilst most people find benzodiazepines such as diazepam sedating (relaxing effect), a small number have paradoxical agitation and increased aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
• According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (British National Formulary) Benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not allowed) in treating phobia. Your doctor would be taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
• Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in several countries. They may be confiscated, or you may find yourself in trouble with the police. The passenger may also need to use a different strategy for the return journey and/or other legs of the journey.
• Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to random drug testing, you may fail this having taken diazepam.

A lower risk and perhaps better more holistic approach to tackle a fear of flying is with a Fear of Flying course. These are now run by several airlines. These courses are far more effective than medication and have none of the undesirable side effects above. The positive effects of the course are likely to also continue after completion.  

For further information please see:
https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-manage-flight-anxiety

Fear of Flying Courses:

• British Airways (Flying with confidence)
• https://flyingwithconfidence.com/courses
• Easyjet (Fearless Flyer)
• https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/
• Virgin Atlantic (Flying Without Fear)
• https://flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/