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

These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.

You can also:

• bring our paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday 
• post it to us with a stamped addressed envelope
• send us a request via email                                                   hiowicb-p.kirklandssurgeryprescriptions@nhs.net

We do not take repeat prescription requests over the phone.

Prescriptions can usually be collected 3-5 working days after you have ordered it.

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 your GP practice
• at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service. You can choose were to get your medication or appliances from.

What does this mean for you?

You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from. This could be a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.

For further information on:

• Choosing a pharmacy or other dispenser
• Cancelling or changing your choice of pharmacist or dispenser
• What can I do if I'm unhappy with the process?

Go to Electronic prescriptions .nhs.uk.

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. Including, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

• Go to Medicines A to Z (nhs.uk)

To talk to someone at the GP surgery about your prescriptions, fill in our medication query form.

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 it to the pharmacy you got it from.  Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.

As qualified healthcare professionals, Community Pharmacists can give offer you advice on minor illnesses such as;

• coughs
• colds
• tummy trouble
• aches and pains
• hay fever

Some pharmacists also offer a service called Pharmacy First.  

The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the UK Government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and to ease pressure on GP services.

Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

The 7 common symptoms Pharmacy First can treat;

• Acute Otitis Media (middle ear infections) for people aged 1-17 years old.
• Impetigo for people aged 1 year and over
• Infected insect bites for people aged 1 year and over
• Shingles  for people aged 18 years and over
• Sinusitis for people aged 12 years and over
• Sore throat for people aged 5 years and over
• Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections for Women ages 16-64 years old

You can get treatment for these conditions by booking online, or walking into a participating pharmacy. GP surgeries, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies, that offer the service, if contacted.

*Distance selling pharmacies will not complete consultations for acute otits media (earache).

For more information about this service visit  NHS England; Pharmacy First

Pharmacists  can also inform you of what medicine 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 consultation room. This is so that you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Kirklands Surgery does not prescribe sedatives such as Diazepam for patients who are anxious about flying. This is a practice policy which has been updated following available guidance and agreed by all GP Partners. It is adhered to by all prescribers in the practice. 

This is due to a number of reasons, which are outlined below:

• GPs are not regularly involved, skilled, trained or appraised in sedation skills. As a result, GPs are not trained to provide the correct level of sedation for fear of flying. Providing too little sedation won’t relax/sedate you but providing too much sedation can make you too drowsy/sleepy, which could lead to problems either before, during or after the flight. 
• After taking sedation, you will need to be closely monitored to keep you safe. This responsibility lies with the person prescribing the sedation, they would need to be present before, during and after the flight. As the GP is unable to monitor you after you take the sedation, the GP is unable to prescribe in these circumstances. 

We appreciate a fear of flying is very real and very frightening and can be debilitating. However, there are much better and effective ways of tackling the problem. We recommend you tackle your problem with a Fear of Flying Course, which is run by several airlines. These courses are far more effective than diazepam, they have none of the undesirable effects and the positive effects of the courses continue after the courses have been completed.