Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Telephone requests for repeat prescriptions are usually not accepted.

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

The NHS App will show you all your repeat medicine and dosage. You can select from the list the medicine which you need.

You can also:

  • Bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.30pm or use the 24 hour security box at the front of the building outside of surgery hours.

Both internal and external boxes are checked regularly throughout the day.

If you have an enquiry about your prescription, please call  01606 544 641 the phoneline is answered Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm.

If there are any exceptional circumstances, please speak to the Receptionist who will offer every possible help.

Collecting your prescription

Please allow 72 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed. Any problems please telephone the surgery.

If you have submitted your request online and you can see that this has bene approved by the GP’s please do not contact the prescription line to check if this has been released to your nominated pharmacy.

Please only contact the prescription line if there is a problem with your medication, or you have an enquiry.

By using the NHS app you are able to provide the pharmacy with a barcode that is linked to your prescription to allow the pharmacist to easily locate your medication.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:

  • on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
  • at your GP practice
  • at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

Reduce medicine wastage

Recently Swanlow and other practices within Winsford have changed the way in which they deal with prescriptions.

It was highlighted that there is a lot of wasted medicines within the NHS and it is costing the NHS millions of pounds each year. Cheshire & Merseyside ICB is showing a deficit on its prescribing budget this year and so locally we had to do something to alleviate this deficit.

Wasted medicines can be reduced by ensuring that you only order the medication that you need.

Only tick/request the medication you need. If you are getting medication you have not requested, please let us know so we can address this issue. Find out more about how you can reduce your medicine wastage, click here.

We have gone back to the good old days whereby you are responsible for ordering your own medication (instead of other organisations doing it for you).

We appreciate that this could take some time to get used to but we are already seeing the benefits on our prescribing budget.

1) Repeat Dispensing – this is for patients who are on stable medication, are up to date with their medication review and the GP has agreed that either 6 or 12 months worth of prescriptions can go directly to the Pharmacy for them to dispense to you on a monthly basis.  If you feel you are on stable medication and would like this service please enquire at a pharmacy of your choice.

2) Patients on EPS – Electronic Prescription Service is whereby the patient still requests their own medication on a monthly basis but instead of picking the prescription up it is electronically sent to a Pharmacy of their choice.  This means there is one less journey to the surgery for the patient.  You will need to nominate a pharmacy with the practice to enable us to send prescriptions electronically.

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:

  • fill in an administrative eConsultation form  
  • phone our prescription line Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm

Book an appointment with our In-House pharmacist

Medication reviews

If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a review with our in-house pharmacists to ensure that the medication you take is still being safely prescribed.

The review does not need to be with a GP and you will be signposted to our Pharmacists in the first instance unless further reviews are required by a GP. You may also be asked to have a blood test prior to your medication review.

Prescription charges

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

What to do with old medicines

If you have medication which you no longer use/require you can return them to your pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not bin or flush your medication.

About pharmacists

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can diagnose and prescribe medication for ailments under the Pharmacy First scheme.

Ailments covered in the scheme are:

  • Acute Ear Infection
    • Impetigo
    • Infected insect bites
    • Shingles
    • Sinusitis
    • Sore throat
    • Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s)

The Pharmacists can also advise you on medication which can be bought over the counter for ailments such as:

  • coughs
  • colds
  • sore throats
  • tummy trouble
  • aches and pains

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 consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.