If you are taking a regular course of medicines and require a further supply (after the doctor has seen you initially), you can request a repeat prescription in any of the following ways:
Drop In A Prescription Request
We have a special collection point at the main reception to avoid any waiting. There is also an information notice telling you when to collect your prescriptions. Any prescriptions left when the Surgery is closed will not be processed until the next working day and you should allow additional time to collect your prescription eg prescriptions left over the weekend will not to ready for collection until Wednesday afternoon.
At Your Local Pharmacy
You can drop your prescription into your selected pharmacy and they will deliver the request to the Medical Centre. Please leave two extra days for your request to be processed.
Post In Your Prescription Request
Send to:
The Prescription Department
Burnham Medical Centre
Love Lane
Burnham-on-Sea
TA8 1EU
The prescription is processed and ready for collection or delivery to the chemist in the usual way. Please allow for postage time plus the usual three working days at the medical centre.
If you would like us to return your prescription via the post please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. Allow a few extra days to include posting time.
Telephone Requests
The prescription line is open Monday to Friday 10.00am to 12.30pm and 2.00pm to 4.30pm when there is a member of staff to answer your calls. It is an increasingly busy line but we have listed a few suggestions to avoid delay:
1. Do not telephone on a Monday unless you only have a couple of days' supply.
2. Avoid phoning immediately after the line opens.
3. Try to telephone in the middle of the morning/afternoon.
4. Do not telephone the main switchboard. It is practice policy not to accept prescription requests on this line and we cannot transfer calls. Please remember, if you telephone the main switchboard with a prescription request, you may be blocking an emergency call.
Order Your Repeat Prescription Online
Once your request has been successfully submitted, you will be directed to a screen bearing the message "Thank you. Your repeat prescription has been e-mailed to the surgery" No further confirmation will be sent.
Please be aware that our e-mails are only read and actioned during normal surgery opening hours.
Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your prescription to be ready when ordering via email.
Security note: This repeat prescription form uses Hushmail Email Encryption. This means that if someone is eavesdropping on your Internet connection, they will not be able to read the traffic that you send and your repeat prescription is secured.
Drug Wastage
As you are no doubt aware, we
have a drug budget for all medication that we issue at the medical centre. What is more, we
are under constant pressure from the government to stay within that budget.
We ask you to help us by reminding you of the following:
- Do not request medication you no longer use. If you have stopped taking your medication let us know.
- Do not hoard medication at home.
- Sort out your medicines and order what you require on a monthly basis.
- Do not use another person's medication.
The computer system monitors how much is being prescribed and as a result if you request a
medication before it is due there may be a delay before the prescription is issued. For example, if in the past
two weeks you had received a repeat prescription for a month's supply our computer will tell us that the next
prescription is not yet due. We recognize that it may sometimes be necessary to make early requests, for example
when you are going to be away from home for some time, eg on holiday. If this is the case, please help us by
putting a note on the counterfoil giving the reason for your early request. This may then avoid any unnecessary
delay.
As you are no doubt aware, prescriptions have become very expensive. Remember the charge is made per item and it may be
cheaper to get a 'season ticket' - see leaflet P11 (available from our Reception) for details.
The following are exempt from charges:
- Men and women over 60 years
- People under 16 years
- People under 19 years in full time education
- Pregnant women and new mothers up to one year after the birth
- People on income support or family credit
- People suffering from epilepsy, diabetes, hypothyroidism,
diabetes insipidus, Addison’s disease, myasthenia gravis.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS READY FOR COLLECTION
