Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

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

You can also:

  • fill out an admin request using our online form
  • bring the paper form to the surgery, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.00pm
  • Prescription phone line – To order your prescription over the phone please call 0191 226 1414 then select Option 1

Prescription line opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-12pm and 2pm-3pm

A voicemail service is available outside of these hours. Please leave your name, date of birth and the name of the medicines you wish to order.

Please Note

It can take up to two working days for us to issue a prescription after it has been ordered.

We use Electronic Prescribing, where prescriptions are sent electronically directly to your nominated pharmacy.

Please only order the medications you need, to avoid waste and stock-piling.

Prescriptions should only be ordered within 7 days of their due date. They should only be ordered early in exceptional circumstances e.g. if you are going away on holiday.

Collecting your prescription

You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 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

Practice Pharmacists

We have a Pharmacy Team working within our GP practice as part of the primary healthcare team.

Our pharmacists can offer support for a wide range of conditions. You may be asked to book an appointment with one of our pharmacists to review a long-term condition.

We may also ask you to book an appointment with a practice pharmacist if a GP has started a medication, and we want to review how you are getting on with it.

Pharmacist appointments are available at both Cruddas Park and Hillsview sites, and we offer both face-to-face and telephone appointments.

Pharmacists can also support you if you are having difficulty with your medicines – for example, if you are having side effects from your medicines or you are struggling to take them.

The NHS website also has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

Medication reviews

It is important that medications which are on repeat prescription are regularly reviewed for your safety

This may involve blood tests, other checks such as blood pressure or weight, and a conversation with a healthcare professional about the condition which the medicine is treating and how you are getting on with it.

If a medication review is due, we will invite you to book an appointment with the most appropriate member of our team. If your review is significantly overdue, it may be necessary for us to reduce the duration of your repeat prescription until you have attended, for your safety.

Prescription charges

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).

What to do with old medicines

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

Pharmacy First

Community pharmacists are now able to diagnose certain conditions for which you previously may have needed to see a GP.

They can provide you with immediate treatment or refer you to the most appropriate service.

Our Receptionists are trained to identify who needs to be seen by a GP, and who is eligible to be reviewed by a Community Pharmacist. If you have one of the below conditions, our Reception team will offer to refer you to a Community Pharmacy:

  • Urinary tract infections in women aged 16-64
  • Shingles
  • Impetigo
  • Infected Insect Bites
  • Sore throat
  • Sinusitis
  • Earache

Community pharmacies can also treat certain conditions with medicines which are available to buy over the counter:

  • Coughs
  • Cold sores
  • Conjunctivitis and irritated eyes
  • Constipation
  • Cystitis
  • Diarrhoea
  • Genital and oral thrush
  • Hayfever
  • Insect bites/stings
  • Ringworm/threadworm
  • Toothache/teething

Minor Ailments Scheme

Over-the-counter medicines free of charge from your local pharmacy by asking to use their Minor Ailments Scheme. This is available for many common over-the-counter medicines, including:

  • Paracetamol (Calpol) – liquid and tablets
  • Ibuprofen – liquid and tablets
  • Steroid nasal spray (Beconase)
  • Antihistamine nasal spray
  • Antihistamine tablets or liquid
  • Antihistamine eye drops
  • Simple linctus cough syrup
  • Haemorrhoid cream and suppositories
  • Constipation and diarrhoea treatment
  • Head lice lotion and comb
  • Moisturising creams and emollients
  • Vaginal thrush treatment – cream, oral capsule and pessary
  • Anbesol liquid
  • Cold sore treatment