Repeat prescriptions are medications which appear on the reverse of your prescription which your doctor would like you to continue regularly.

How to request a Repeat Prescription

Repeat prescriptions may be ordered in several ways:

1. Online – You can order your repeat prescriptions via the NHS APP or by completing an online form. Speak to one of our receptionists for help with both.
2. In Person – Fill in a prescription request form or tick the items needed on the tear-off side of your prescription and drop it into the surgery.
3. Email – Send an email to NELondonICB.springhillprescriptions@nhs.net. Please do not order any medications you do not need.

If you are still unsure of how to order your repeat medication please contact our reception staff on 02088066993.

Emergency prescription requests are requests for medication which you have run out of and need to prevent you from becoming severely unwell. Emergency medications include; antiepileptic medication, insulin, inhalers and adrenaline pens for anaphylaxis. Please telephone the reception team (0208 806 6993) as soon as possible to discuss your request.

PLEASE NOTE: routine prescription requests cannot be made over the telephone and must be requested either online via Online Consult or Patient Access, or in person.

If you have forgotten to order a repeat prescription and you feel you need your medication urgently, contact your pharmacist, who can request this for you electronically and in some situations will be able to give you an emergency supply until the prescription has been raised, or drop in a written request marked as ‘urgent’ on the prescription box at reception (prescription designated area).

We ask that patients complete any urgent prescription requests by 17:00 between Monday and Thursday and by 16:00 on a Friday. Collection of urgent prescriptions must be after 18:30 Monday-Thursday and from 17:30 on Friday.

If you find you have run out of medication earlier than the date it is next due to be requested, please contact the surgery to discuss this with the reception team. You may need to book an appointment with our Clinical Pharmacist to discuss your medication and dosage.

You may need to request your medication earlier than its due date if you are going away to ensure you have enough medication to last you until you return. Please request your medication in the normal way – online, in person or by post – providing the reason for the early request. The reception team will review the request and contact you if further information or an appointment with a Clinical Pharmacist or a doctor is required.

Please remember to allow 48 hours for all medication requests. If you have any queries please speak with the reception team who will be happy to guide you.

You can choose to nominate a chemist. This means that once we have processed your prescription request, it will be sent electronically to your chosen chemist directly. If you would like to nominate a chemist, do let reception know. Alternatively, you can also do this through the Patient Access App.

If there is no nominated chemist in your records, the prescription will be printed and collected at the Practice. Please keep in mind if your prescription request is NOT for a repeat prescription, it may not be possible to agree to your request; it will take longer to process, and the doctor may wish to speak with you. Delays may also occur if your medication requests are different from what your doctor has prescribed for you.

Over-the-counter medications will not be issued. Please see NHS guidance about this here.

If you normally take regular repeat medication, please let us know by:

• Giving us a copy of your repeat prescription slip.
• Give us a copy of your medication label on your medication box or bottle which has your name, medication dosage and date.

The prescribing pharmacist will check your medication list and put them on the repeats list but we recommend you make an appointment with the Doctor or Pharmacist to have a medication review within the first month of registering with the surgery. 

It can take a couple of weeks for your previous records to be delivered to us from your last GP surgery. If you need medication before that, you can bring in your repeat slip and request your medication. Your doctor might need to contact you about your medication request. Please allow up to 2 working days for a prescription request.

The Spring Hill Practice has a statutory duty to ensure that safe systems are in place for the management and use of controlled drugs. This is to prevent harm to patients from any misuse of controlled drugs.

Please click here to check Government’s issued full list of controlled medication

Please see our controlled drug policies below. We will be actively contacting patients to discuss gradually reducing and stopping these medications due to the overwhelming evidence of harm.

Benzo Policy                                                                                                                                                                              Gabapentoids (Pregablin and Gabapentin) Policy                                                                                                                          Opioid Reduction Policy

If you or someone you care for uses the same medicines regularly, you may be able to benefit from electronic repeat dispensing.

This means you won’t have to re-order or collect repeat prescriptions from your GP practice whenever you need more medicine.
You collect your regular medication from your usual pharmacy each month without ordering it.

You need a nominated pharmacy to enable electronic dispensing, and we will set this with you. Your regular medication will then be available at that pharmacy.

They will inform you when your pharmacy supplies your last electronic repeat prescription. You will then have to contact your GP practice to ask for another set of electronic repeat prescriptions. You may need to be seen for a review before another batch of electronic repeat dispensing prescriptions is authorised.

See video below