Prescription Information

At the Acorn Surgery we work on a 28 day cycle, which means every 28 days a new cycle of medication can be issued.

What is a batch prescription?

A batch prescription is a prescription that issues a multiple number of 28 day cycles of medication.

The pharmacy dispenses these every 28 days, without the patient needing to request their medication from the surgery.

Batch prescriptions can be in sets of 2 cycles, 3 or 6 cycles.

They can only be issued to patients that are on regular medication.

If you no longer wish to be on a batch prescription please let the Prescription Administrator know and they will arrange for you to revert back to regular prescription orders.

What happens when a batch has finished?

When you collect the last of your batch, the pharmacy should let you know its your last one. All pharmacies are different however this may be verbally or a note in with your medication.

It is then the patients’ responsibility to request a new batch from the surgery.

NO REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED OVER THE PHONE

• Via the NHS App – Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is the most simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. The NHS App is available now on iOS and Android.
• NHS Online Login – You can view your current repeat medication and order the items you require. This is for patients who have a NHS login.
• Contact Us Online – This is the best way to request medication if you don’t use the NHS App, you are requesting medication for someone under 16, are a housebound patient or ordering Acute Medication. Click here to open the form.
• In Person – post in the black prescription box in the waiting room.
• SystmOnline – using the following LINK.

Before a new batch can be issued, you will need a medication review, and for this you may need an appointment, we will let you know once we receive your request.

If you need an appointment it may be for:

• Blood tests
• Medication review with our Clinical Pharmacist
• Blood Pressure, height, weight, oxygen levels and/or pulse checks etc.
• Medical condition review

If your appointment is after the next issue date of medication, one cycle can be issued to cover you until after your appointment.

Please note you will need to request a new Batch Prescription after your appointment.

Items that can not/do not routinely go on a batch

• Controlled Drugs
• Some high risk medication
• Inhalers are not routinely put on a batch unless they are taken everyday on a regular basis – for example, Fostair
• Creams, lotions and emollients
• Blood glucose strips
• Sharps Bins
• Insulin needles
• Lancets
• Warfarin

However if you would like something on batch that is listed above please let the Prescription Administrator know and they will discuss your request with the Doctor.

From the 1 April, the Government is launching the HRT Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) to reduce prescription costs for women receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

The HRT PPC will be available to buy in one single payment online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc, or in-person at some pharmacies. You can call 0300 330 2089 for help and support.

Before buying an HRT PPC, you should check if:

• you’re eligible for free NHS prescriptions using the eligibility checker: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check
• your medicine is covered by the HRT PPC. For a list of eligible HRT medication, visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc-medicines
• a 3 or 12 month PPC is more suitable. It covers all NHS prescriptions, not just HRT items. Visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc

• Confirmation is needed that adequate steps have been taken to locate the lost prescription or medication before the request is passed to the GP.
• A note of the event will be recorded in the patient’s medical record.
• An incident report will be documented in the Practice records.
• For safety reasons, patients who have lost or had stolen prescriptions for medication liable to abuse (including controlled drugs) must notify the Police and MUST inform the Practice of the incident/crime number before any further prescription is considered for issue.

Requesting sedation for forthcoming procedure, eg dental appointment

We are occasionally approached by patients to prescribe sedating medication for anxiety related to a procedure that the patient is having outside of the Practice, for example feeling claustrophobic when undergoing an MRI scan or a needle phobia when having dental treatment.

In line with the General Medical Council’s ‘Good Medical Practice’ to which our GPs work, it should be the clinician responsible for the procedure who prescribes any sedating medication (eg. the dentist), as they can provide appropriate monitoring during the procedure and ensure adequate aftercare is in place.  They are able to prescribe where clinically appropriate and where the benefits are thought to outweigh the risks.

As we have no direct knowledge, control or responsibility for the patient’s care needs during these forthcoming procedures and no certain way of determining whether any medications prescribed by us for procedural anxiety will cause harm by either interfering with the procedure itself or any medications required during it, we are not able to facilitate these requests on the grounds of patient safety. All sedative drugs have inherent risks including causing serious accidents and pneumonia.

Whilst we appreciate that fear of flying and conditions such as needle phobias are very real and unpleasant for some people, the decision to amend our Policy is made with safety-related best interests of our patients in mind.

Repeat prescriptions regularly need to be checked by a prescriber to make sure that your medication is working correctly.

You will be requested to book a medication review with a clinician at least every 12 months. It is important that you do attend.

Medication reviews are with the GP, Clinical Pharmacist, Nurse or a trained health care professional.

If an appointment is needed it may be for one or more of the following reasons:​

• Blood tests – routine, high risk drug monitoring
• Medication review​
• BP, height, weight, saturations, pulse​
• Medical condition review​

If the appointment is booked for after the next issue date, one month can be issued to cover until the review is completed.

• We are fortunate that there is a Community Pharmacy on the same site as the Practice, with easy access from our main Patient Waiting Area.
• We enjoy an excellent working relationship with the Pharmacists and their dedicated team.
• They are happy to dispense any medications for patients and keep a well-stocked chemist’s shop alongside the dispensary.
• They can advise you on any minor illness and appropriate treatment.
• They are part of the Community Pharmacy Referral Scheme.

• If you wish to take advantage of the repeat prescription collection service organised by local chemists, you will need to speak to the individual pharmacy and they will explain their procedure to you.
• We are happy to send your prescription to a local chemist for dispensing and collection.

The Practice Partners have overall responsibility for ensuring that the processes for issuing prescriptions at the Acorn Surgery are governed by safe and effective protocols.

THE PRESCRIPTION TEAM

Practice Manager

•  Victoria Pilkington

Lead GP for Prescribing

• Dr Tom Spencer

Lead GP Partner for Prescribing

• Dr Simon Leveritt

Lead Prescription Administrator

• Clare Fitzjohn

Clinical Pharmacist

• Izabela

Prescription Administrators

• Charis
• Chloe
• Rosie

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad of up to 3 months. However, if a person is going to be abroad for more than 3 months, then they are only entitled (at NHS expense) to a sufficient supply of regular medication in order to get to their destination, where they should then find an alternative supply of that medication.

Travelling out of the country for less than 3 months

For patients who inform us they will be out of the country for less than 3 months, we will provide sufficient medicines for an existing condition for the period while the patient is away where it is safe to do so. Drugs that require frequent monitoring may not be prescribed where there are safety concerns.

Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months

Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months’ supply where safe to do so).

Patients and relatives should not seek medication for themselves while they are abroad as this constitutes NHS fraud.

Patients should be aware that some drugs commonly prescribed in the UK may be illegal in certain countries and you should check with that countries’ embassy before you travel.