Prescriptions
Prescription Requests
Please be aware that we no longer accept prescription requests over the phone.
The easiest ways to request your repeat medication are through one of the following options:
You can also drop your prescription request into the post box at the main surgery or reception.
If you can't see your medication listed in the NHS app for reordering, it may need re-authorisation or a medication review. Please use the BMC - Repeat Prescription Requests to submit your medication request.
Please be aware that repeat prescriptions can take up to three working days to be issued, so make sure to request your prescription one week before it’s due. Acute prescriptions and repeat prescriptions that need to be re-authorised may take up to five working days to process, so please keep this in mind when submitting your requests.
Collecting your prescription
The majority of our prescriptions are sent electronically. 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
To find your nearest pharmacy, click here
We do not contact patient's to confirm when a prescription has been issued due to the amount of requests authorised in a day.
- Patients are only notified via text where a medication cannot be issued.
- You can double-check on the status of your medication request via Online Access or by contacting your nominated pharmacy.
Medication Review
Patients on repeat medication will be reviewed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, practice nurse or pharmacist at least once a year. If you are due a medication review, please speak to Reception.
If your medication review is due, please still continue to order your medication as usual and your prescription will be issued.
Urgent Prescription Requests
Many medications can safely be missed for a few days.
- Urgent prescription requests are requests for emergency medication which are needed within 24 hours to prevent the patient from becoming seriously ill
- Urgent prescription requests are not requests for medication which have been ordered late as it is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that repeat prescription requests are ordered in time.
- This will ensure safe prescribing and optimise access to the clinical team.
If you forget to obtain a prescription for repeat medication and run out of important medicines, you may be able to get help from your Pharmacy.
- Under the Urgent Provision of Repeat Medication Service, Pharmacists may be able to supply you with a further cycle of a previously repeated medicine, without having to get a prescription from your GP.
- If you have run out of important medication, telephone your usual Pharmacy to check that they offer this service; if they don’t, they may either direct you to another Pharmacy who does provide it, or ask you to phone 111 where you can request details of a local Pharmacy that provides the service.
Hospital Prescriptions
- When you are seen at the hospital and are given a hospital prescription, you should not leave the hospital without attending the hospital pharmacy to collect the medication.
- A hospital prescription is not valid in community pharmacies.
- Should you wish to have the prescription fulfilled by us instead, this will be processed routinely over 3 working days as urgently needed medication will be provided by the treating hospital.
- Some hospital medications are not licensed to be prescribed in general practice.
Holiday Medication
- Holidays are normally booked weeks or months in advance, therefore when preparing for your holiday, please remember to process a request for your routine medication allowing the normal 3 working days for processing.
- We can only provide a maximum of 3 months medication and we may request a patient to provide documents to support this request.
- We are unable to provide emergency prescriptions for holiday medication.
Sedative Requests
Sedatives For Scans / Procedures Performed Externally
Bancroft Medical Centre does not prescribe sedatives such as diazepam for any procedure or scan being undertaken outside of the practice, including MRI scans and dental procedures. If you feel you need sedation for such procedures, please speak to the team undertaking it, as they are responsible for providing it. This is due to GPs not being trained to provide the correct level of sedation, and the need to closely monitor people after taking sedatives. If needed, feel free to show this policy to your hospital team or dentist.
Further Information
For more information, please see the following patient information leaflet published by the Royal College of Anaesthetists:
http://rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2022-06/12-SedationExp2021web.pdf
The following links provide further information:
Sedation, analgesia and anaesthesia in the radiology department – Royal College of Radiologists
https://www.rcr.ac.uk/system/files/publication/field_publication_files/bfcr182_safe_sedation.pdf
Safe Sedation Practice for Healthcare Professionals: Standards and Guidance – Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
Sedatives For Flying
Bancroft Medical Centre does not prescribe sedatives such as diazepam to treat fear of flying, due to the potential risks posed by being under the influence of the medicine if an emergency were to occur, and the potential for legal consequences. We recommend self-referring for talking therapy or taking a fear of flying course instead.
Further Information
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/services/community-services/wellbeing-service/self-referral/
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence
https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/
https://www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-services/Travel-advice/fear-of-flying/