A repeat prescription is an item, or items, of medication that a doctor has agreed may be ordered regularly. These items appear on the right hand page of your paper prescription and can be ordered in the following ways:

• In person – drop your repeat slip in to reception having clearly marked the items required. Tip: a tick is better than a cross as some patients use a cross to indicate the items they don't want!
• By email – For prescription enquiries and non repeat items send us an email to: hiowicb-hsi.nhmpacuteprescriptions@nhs.net
• Online – via the link at the top of this page. *Please note that new users are required bring photo ID and fill out a registration form at either sugery before completing the simple online process to use this facility.

Telephone requests are not accepted unless in exceptional circumstances (i.e. housebound).

The turnaround for prescriptions is 5 working days.

It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that they are requesting their repeat prescriptions in a timely manner to ensure that they do not run out of their regular medications.

Urgent requests for medication will only be considered for the medications below:

• Inhalers
• Epilepsy medication
• Insulin
• GTN spray
• Blood thinners – eg. warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, clexane, clopidogrel
• Water tablets
• Transplant medication for transplant patients (if normally supplied by primary care)
• Hydrocortisone tablets or long-term prednisolone
• Epipen (or similar auto-injectable adrenaline preparations)
• Medication for Parkinson’s Disease – eg. Sinimet, Madopar, Stalevo

Urgent prescriptions will be sent electronically to the patient’s nominated pharmacy by 5:30pm on weekdays. If a patient does not have a nominated pharmacy, this needs to be facilitated at their regular pharmacy .

No other medications will be treated as ‘urgent’. This is a decision made by the GP partners to ensure safe prescribing. The reception team cannot override this decision. 

Hospital requests

If you have an urgent request for medication from the hospital, this should have been provided to you by the hospital either through the hospital pharmacy or by a prescription given to you in the outpatients department or upon discharge. Unless it is a medication listed above, you will need to make contact with your consultant (normally via their secretary) or the ward to obtain a supply of the medication.

If you have a routine request for medication from the hospital, this will take 5 working days, in line with the normal routine repeat prescription process

 Emergency supply from pharmacists

Please note that all patients can obtain a short emergency supply of prescription medications from a registered retail pharmacy. They will need to be seen face-to-face, will need proof of identity and proof that they have received the medicines they are requesting before on prescription. There will be a charge for this as it is not an NHS service. Further information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/where-can-i-get-an-emergency-supply-of-medicine/

Over-the-counter medication

In line with the latest NHS guidance, we will be phasing out the prescribing of common medication available cheaply over-the-counter in pharmacies unless needed for a defined long-term medical condition. This will include paracetamol, Calpol, medication for diarrhoea and constipation and medication for head lice. Further information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/why-cant-i-get-prescription-over-counter-medicine/

Thank you for your understanding

Please help us to avoid waste when requesting repeat prescriptions for your medicines:-

• Please only order those items you actually need
• Please do not stockpile medicines at home
• Please notify us if some medications on the repeat scripts are no longer required

Please also tell us if the time of ordering different tablets on the prescriptions do not tally - your usual GP should be able to sort this out for you.

If you are unable to get to the surgery to drop off and collect your prescription, there are other options available;

You can make an arrangement with a local pharmacy and they will collect it for you. You can then collect the medication when you are ready. Some pharmacies can arrange for delivery of your medication.

Pharmacies that currently visit the surgery are:

• AR Pharmacy 80 870582 
• Day Lewis (Marchwood) 80 870063
• Lloyds (Asda) 80 871255
• Lloyds (Totton) 80 863100
• Pharmacy Direct 80 870886
• Forest Pharmacy (Cadnam) 80 812734.

Help with NHS costs

In England, around 90% of prescription items are dispensed free. This includes exemptions from charging for those on low incomes, such as:

• those on specific benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• those who are age exempt
• those with certain medical conditions
• More information is available at NHS Choices

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

• Prescription (per item): £9.65
• 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £111.60
• 3-month PPC: £31.25

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

• Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
• General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website.