Repeat
Prescriptions
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NHS Halton & St Helens needs your help!
You will have heard on the news that the NHS needs to make savings of £15-20 billion over the next 3 years (this is about 17% of the total NHS budget). Locally NHS Halton & St Helens needs to save £24 million over the next 12 months.
Medicines Changes
We know some of these savings can come from prescribing without affecting patient care. Therefore your regular medication may be switched to a different product which will have exactly the same effect but will cost the NHS less. We will give you information about any changes. If you have any concerns please discuss with your GP, practice nurse or chemist.
Medicines Waste
Each year NHS Halton & St Helens spends around £60 million on medicines. However we know that at least £1.5 million worth of medicines each year are returned to chemists unused. These medicines cannot be re-used and are destroyed. Please ONLY order medication that you need and do not stockpile your medicines at home. If there are medicines on your list that you no longer take please inform you doctor, practice nurse or chemist. Thank you.
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For safety reasons we do not take requests for repeat prescriptions
over the telephone.
Repeat Dispensing
It is now possible to obtain your repeat medicines without having to
see the
doctor for a prescription each time.
The service, known as repeat dispensing, is ideal for those whose
medication
is generally stable and is proving very popular with our patients.
If you would like to learn more about Repeat Dispensing or apply to
join the
scheme, please ask at reception.
Wherever possible you should use the re-order slip attached to your
prescription to order your next prescription. You can request a
print out of your re-order slip from the receptionist at any time.
PLEASE ALLOW 2 WORKING DAYS FOR YOUR REQUEST TO BE PROCESSED
Here are the ways you can
re-order your repeat medication:
Secure Email
You can order your repeat prescription by our secure form
facility.
Click here to access
this facility.
In person
You can drop your request off in person at any time when the
surgery is open.
Alternatively, you can put your request into the post box which
is located near the entrance door to the surgery. We empty the
post box daily.
Post
You may post your request (if you enclose a reply paid envelope
we will mail your prescription back to you)
Fax
We anticipate offering the option to fax in your repeat
prescription request early in 2006.
Pharmacy
You can leave your prescription request at Garswood Pharmacy. The
pharmacy staff come to the surgery several times a day and will
bring your prescription request with them and leave it at the
surgery to be processed. We will send your prescription back to the
pharmacy for you to collect if you indicate that this is your
preference on the re-order slip.
Please note: if you prefer to leave/collect your prescription at
Garswood Pharmacy you are under no obligation to have it dispensed
there and can take it to a pharmacy of your choice.
Wasted medicines
Wasted medicines cost the NHS Millions every year.
You should only order the medication you need. Stockpiling
medication is unwise as many medicines have a short shelf life and
the doctor may change your prescription to a different drug.
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