You are taking a repeat medicine. This leaflet explains what happens next & how we continue your prescription in the future.

What is a repeat medicine?

A medicine you have been taking for long enough for you & the prescribing clinician to know it is making you feel better. The clinician then marks it as a repeat medicine on our system so you can get more without speaking to them. Usual supply is 1 month (varies at clinician’s discretion).

Repeat medicines must be reviewed at intervals. We cannot continue to prescribe for longer than a year without you having a medication review from a clinician.

Birthday Month reviews

If your medicine is because you have cardiovascular disease (incl heart disease & hypertension,) diabetes, asthma or lung disease (COPD) we ask you to attend an annual “Birthday Month” review with our nursing team. This is important because it is the start of the annual medication review process. After the nursing team appt, the nurse will ask the GP or other prescribing clinician eg pharmacist to do the medication review. If the clinician wants to speak with you they will ask you to book a routine phone appt, but they may do the review using the information you have already given the nurse.

Failure to attend for your birthday month review may lead to your repeat medications being postponed.

Annual medication reviews

For people with long-term conditions not mentioned above, or on other long term medication, you can see medication review due dates on your prescription & in NHS App. Please book a medication review annually, even if you are well & settled on your medication. Contact us at least 10d before your medication runs out to arrange it.

What happens at the medication review?

At the appointment, you will discuss with the clinician how you have been feeling, and any other medication issues. If the medicine has not been making you feel better, or if other things have changed, then clinician may suggest changing the amount, or an alternative.

 When will a medication not be put on repeat or taken off repeat prescription?

It is not always appropriate to put a medicine on repeat prescription. This may occur:

• If the medicine is a short course for short term problem
• Medicines that are changing or not stable
• When a Medication Review is needed or overdue

 How do I order / receive my repeat medicine?

Ordering via the NHS App is safest & is easiest. We process 100’s of repeat prescription requests daily: each needs care & attention & the process to be efficient & safe.

How long does it take to get a repeat prescription?

Repeat prescriptions take 2 working days to process:

 Please order via NHS App. We do not take ‘phone requests.

What if I run out of medicine ?

Please plan ahead so you do not run out of medicine. Order more when you still have one week’s supply left. We issue hundreds of repeat prescriptions every day, & each needs care & attention, they cannot be done in a hurry.

We have a short list of medicines that can be issued at short notice because harm will be caused they are stopped. If your medicine does not appear on our list then we are not able to issue it at short notice unless there are exceptional circumstances.